b'all of North Dakota and northwest- phase is complete. Plans are to dou- state-of-the-art building was design-ern Minnesota, said he is excited to bleproductionwithinfouryears, ed to allow the addition, which willsee the new plant become a reality. bringingthetotalcapacityto400 cost$46million,plusanother$9millionpoundsoffrozenfrench million for operating capital.Growersandotherbehindthe fries and some tater tots.scenes potato industry people, such Becauseoftheplantscentralloca-astheextensionservicepeople, The expansion will hinge on a cou- tion, it will save about two cents ahave worked hard to seek a process- ple of factors, however. Clyde said pound in transportation costs overingplantforthatarea,hesaid, the expansion will happen as fast as many other plants. Also, it is a smallanditisgreattoseesomething it can get done if company sales fall companywithlowoverheadwithhappening.Theimpactthisnew into line the way they anticipate. It plans to sell its product direct.plant will haveon North Dakotas willalsohingeonwhetherornotpotato industry is great. It will not the company will be able to enroll Many company, city, and state dig-only serve another end-use for pota- enoughgrowersofirrigatedpota- nitaries were in Jamestown for thetoes,butwillhopefullyhelp toes to supply the plant. It will like- groundbreakingceremonyinincrease returns to the growers. ly take about 800 million pounds of September.Redmondsaidduringrawpotatoestoproduceover400 theceremony,Thegroundbreak-I have to commend the growers in million pounds of french fries. ing ceremony is a symbol. This is inthe Jamestown area on a successful itself the best expression of our feel-endeavor, particularly Rodney Holt AccordingtoClyde,theplantwill ings on this occasion. I will only sayandMaynaardHelgaaswhoboth havetheproven,latest,updated that we are very glad to be here. Weput a lot of time and effort into the equipmentthatisthemosteffi- thankthecommunityforitshardproject. Kihlstadius said. cient. For example, equipment will work, good will, and confidence inbeinstalledtopreheatpotatoes American Prairie Foods.This endeavor will have an indirect beforecutting,whichwillreduceaffectontheRRVPGAaswellhe waste caused by potatoes that crack About1,500peoplefromtheareaadded.TheAssociationdedicates instead of cut. turned out for the ground breakingthousandsofdollarseachyearto ceremonyandthefreeBBQs,potatoresearch.Andwiththe The company will also gain by con- frenchfriesandsodasthatwereincreaseinirrigatedpotatoacres, structingtheplantfromthestart donated.theAssociationplanstoputmore withexpansionpossibilitiesinemphasisonirrigatedpotato mind.The900footby200footresearch. Also, as the Association is astrongsupporteroftheMinnesotaand North Dakota university potato The Insulation Placebreedingprograms,Kihlstadius 14770 69th Place NEGrafton, ND 58237 believestheprogramswillredirect Please put Insulation Place adUrethane Spray-On Insulationsomeadditionalefforttodevelop-ing varieties for processing. form July/August issue, pageEliminates air infiltration & stops condensation\x00 Highest R-Value Insulation \x00 Fire ProofingEventhoughAmericanPrairie 12 here Flat Roofs\x00 Moisture Barriers \x00Foods is not yet completed, compa- Grafton(701) 352-3233 1-800-352-0620ny officials are making plans for an Bismarck(701) 255-0025 1-866-425-0025expansiontofollowafterthefirst Website www.theinsulationplace.comSEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2020 POTATO GROWER 15'