Aroostook County has a new crop. With potato blossoms forming in some fields, other farms are a flash of brilliant yellow as canola plants flourish in northern Maine. The blossoms turn to seed before the plant is harvested and the seeds are shipped to Canada for pressing. However, a new Maine company, Maine Natural Oils, has begun cold pressing the seeds in Presque Isle. The cold-press process requires less energy — both for transportation crops in state and running the mill presses — and does not use chemical solvents to separate the canola oil from the seed, which is the process used to refine some cooking oils. NMO is also GMO-free; its farmers do not use genetically modified seeds. Already the oils are being touted by Maine chefs.