Hermiston's Lamb Weston plant celebrates 40 years french fry production

ConAgra Foods Lamb Weston in Hermiston celebrated a company milestone on Monday celebrating forty years of making french fries and other foods.

“When we first opened our doors there were three very long production lines with 50 to 75 people on them,” said Davalee Gist, projects technician. Packaging at the plant was all done by hand including making boxes, filling them and gluing them shut, according to a press release.

“There have been lots of changes in the last 40 years,” Gist said. “It does not seem like it has been that long, but I can say I have learned a lot about what a potato has to do to become a french fry.” Quality assurance evaluator Sally Kennedy has been with the company 40 years.

“In my 40 years, I have seen us transform the way we make fries,” Kennedy said. Plant manager Neal Flyg expressed appreciation of more than 500 employees who have helped in the process. “Since we opened in 1972, our Hermiston operation has undergone numerous renovations to expand our output and automate tasks, while improving how we operate with respect to the environment,” Flyg said.

“We’re very proud of what our employees accomplish. Not only do they make the best fries in the business, they’re doing it for more and more customers, many of which are operating on a global scale.”