The sixth and final installment of Starting a Business in Maine addresses the challenge of managing the growth of a business in its critical early years, how to learn from mistakes, and understanding the importance and necessity of preparing for the unexpected.

This show's entrepreneurial profile centers on Jim and Megan Gerritsen, pioneers in the field of organic potato farming and owners of Wood Prairie Farm in the town Bridgewater in Aroostook County. Starting with land they purchased 30 years ago for $6,000, the Gerritsens saw their mainly local business go global with the advent of the Internet, which suddenly allowed them to sell seed potatoes to environmentally-conscious farmers around the world. It's an opportunity they capitalized on, and they have since expanded their business to include other organic produce, expanding their potential customer base yet again.

Experts on hand to talk with host Lou McNally and answer viewers' questions will stress the need for flexibility and the importance of monitoring the performance of any new business by comparing actual performance to that which may have been projected.

The Maine Public Broadcasting Network recognizes its program collaborators, the Maine Community College System, the Small Business Administration and the Maine Small Business Development Centers.