Simplot’s plant in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, has an annual capacity of more than 300 million pounds for frozen french fries and formed potato products. The plant, which opened in 2003 and is among the most efficient facilities of its kind in the world, is designed to accommodate expansion that could double its initial capacity.

The Portage plant serves mainly large quick-service-restaurant chains and other Simplot customers in the East, Southeast, and Midwest.

The facility measures 180,000 square feet, with an additional 85,000 square feet in an on-site freezer warehouse.

The operation employs 230 people and was built at a cost of $150 million (Canadian).

Area growers supply most of the potatoes processed at the plant. The operation requires 6 million hundred-weight of spuds a year, which is equal to the yield from about 20,000 acres.

The plant represents a unique combination of more than 60 years of potato processing experience and the latest technology.

The facility’s water treatment system utilizes a unique design that assures proper pre-treatment of process water in a sophisticated anaerobic digester. The water then is piped to the city of Portage treatment plant.

All process functions and utilities are controlled by Emerson Process Management’s Delta V DCS control system.