McCain Foods USA personnel recently welcomed Randy Romanski, the Secretary of Wisconsin’s Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP), to its potato processing factory in Plover to get an up front and personal close look at production systems and talk about trade and sustainability.
“We were proud to showcase our facility and the 478 individuals employed here during the visit,” said Ed White, manager. “In addition to touring the plant’s operations, where local potatoes are made into frozen french fries, McCain’s ongoing commitment to sustainability was discussed. We have set our company’s purpose towards producing planet-friendly food to ensure a sustainable future for generations to come. The local growers, the Plover community and team members at our potato processing plants all play a critical role in helping us reach sustainability goals.”
“Wisconsin is one of the top states in potato production, with more than 3.1 billion pounds of potatoes produced in 2020,” said Romanski. “I thank McCain Foods for sharing more information about their operations. From farmers to processors and haulers to retail, each person who participates in this industry depends on each other. DATCP is proud to play a role in ensuring Wisconsin’s safe, nutritious, and delicious foods are available across the world.”
Meanwhile, last December McCain management announced a $169 million project will add an additional production line to support cheese-based appetizer operations that the Plover plant. The 135,000-square-foot expansion project will begin in the summer of 2022 and is expected to generate 110 new jobs.
Headquartered in Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois, McCain Foods USA is a leading supplier of branded and private label frozen potato and snack food products to foodservice markets and retail grocery chains across the country. It employs approximately 4,000 people and operates production facilities in Idaho, Maine, Nebraska and Washington in addition to Wisconsin.
The company is a unit of McCain Foods Limited, which was founded in Florenceville, New Brunswick, Canada in 1957 and is headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. Ranking as as one of the world’s largest manufacturers of value added frozen potato products, it supplies french fries and a wide portfolio of spud specialties as well as appetizers, desserts and other products to customers around the world. Fifty-two production plants on six continents fly the McCain flag, and the global payroll exceeds 21,000 persons globally.
