ConAgra Foods Inc (NYSE:CAG) joined with community and civic leaders to celebrate the completed expansion of its Lamb Weston frozen potato facility in Boardman OR recently. The $200 million investment announced in 2012 adds a new processing line to the plant, increasing capacity for making french fries and other frozen potato products, and also adds more than 100 jobs to the local economy.
During a special grand opening ceremony, Lamb Weston employees were joined by representatives from Columbia River Enterprise Zone, Port of Morrow, the city of Boardman, Morrow County and the state of Oregon.
“We appreciate the efforts and support of all our community partners,” said Greg Schlafer, president of Lamb Weston. “The completion of our new production line allows us to expand the outstanding work our employees do every day to make great-tasting french fries from the high-quality potatoes grown throughout the region. We can continue to build upon the strong relationships we have with our customers while meeting their growing needs, and we can expand the reach of foods grown and prepared in the Columbia River Basin beyond our shores.”
The 192,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art addition further enhances Lamb Weston’s flexibility to make different varieties of frozen potato and other vegetable products. The addition gives Lamb Weston five production lines in two plants in Boardman and increases capacity by an estimated 300 million pounds annually. Easy access to the Port of Morrow supports Lamb Weston’s domestic and international growth plans.
ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston is one of the largest employers in the Columbia River Basin. The company operates seven facilities in the region, employing nearly 4,500 people, including 750 employees in Boardman and 500 in Hermiston OR.
The existing Boardman facility is EPA Energy Star-certified as a result of employee efforts to reduce energy, reuse water, and increase recycling. The expansion was built with technology and sustainable construction techniques pioneered at Lamb Weston’s Delhi LA sweet potato operation, which is LEED platinum-certified.
For more information, go to www.conagrafoods.com.
