Members of the ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston team joined with community and civic leaders on June 27 to celebrate the completed expansion of the Lamb Weston frozen potato processing facility in Boardman, Oregon, USA. The $200 million investment, initially announced in 2012 adds a new processing line to the plant, increasing capacity for making french fries and other frozen potato products. It also adds more than 100 jobs to the local economy.
During a special grand opening ceremony, Lamb Weston employees were joined by representatives from the Columbia River Enterprise Zone, Port of Morrow, city of Boardman, Morrow County and 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 many different varieties of frozen potato and other vegetable products. The addition gives the company five production lines at two plants in Boardman, and increases capacity by an estimated 300 million pounds annually. Additionally, easy access to the Port of Morrow supports Lamb Weston’s domestic and international growth plans.
“We couldn’t be more pleased with ConAgra Foods’ investment and commitment to Boardman and the entire Columbia River Basin,” said Gary Neal, general manager of the Port of Morrow. “Our work together is an excellent example of what can happen when members of a thriving community come together.”
ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston is one of the largest employers in the Columbia River Basin, an area known for growing high-quality potatoes and other vegetables. The company operates seven facilities in the region employing nearly 4,500 people, including 750 workers in Boardman and 500 in Hermiston, Oregon.
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 sweet potato operation in Delhi, Louisiana, which is LEED platinum certified.
