Burgaw, North Carolina, USA-based Cardinal Foods and Huntingdon, Quebec, Canada-headquartered private label frozen sweet potato product specialist Russet House are joining forces to triple output of sweet potato fries at a 106,000-square-foot processing plant in Burgaw.
‘We welcome this joint venture with Cardinal Foods to expand our capacity, having been in a sold-out position the past few years at our plant in Huntingdon,” said Leopold Moyen, president of Russet House. “Combining our strengths will allow us to grow while increasing support to our existing customers. This expansion will support new product innovation, which is a core strength.”
Corey Barnhill, president of Cardinal Foods, added: “Our processing capabilities allow us a continued focus on quality with additional capacity to provide a superb product while continuing to service growers across the eastern United States.”
Since 1971, North Carolina has ranked as the No. 1 sweet potato producing state in the USA. The state’s moist climate and rich, fertile soil are ideal for cultivating tuber. With many varieties of sweet potatoes grown in North Carolina, Russet House has chosen the Covington, Beauregard and Evangeline as these varieties have the best flavor and texture for french fries.
The sweet potato is a powerhouse when it comes to beta-carotene, which is an antioxidant that the human body converts to Vitamin A. Consuming foods rich in antioxidants is believed to reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Other important vitamins and minerals found in the sweet potato are Vitamin C, Vitamin B6, Manganese, cooper, pantothenic acid, potassium, Vitamins B1,B2 and B3.
In addition to sweet potatoes, Cardinal Foods specializes in packing frozen blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, raspberries and butternut squash sold under private labels to retail chains as well as to national brand marketers and foodservice operators.
