Bismarck, ND — Cavendish Farms, the fourth-largest North American processor of frozen potatoes, is set to embark on a $150 million expansion at its Jamestown plant, marking a significant investment in the region’s agricultural and food processing sectors. The expansion, which will begin in the spring of 2025, is expected to increase the facility’s production capacity by 40 million pounds annually, raising its total capacity from 410 million pounds to 450 million pounds.
The bulk of the investment — $100 million — will go towards replacing a fryer, expanding the plant by 55 feet, and improving storage and working conditions within the facility. Additionally, the company plans to invest $15 million in expanding packaging operations and $30 million to build a new wastewater treatment plant. This new plant will allow Cavendish Farms to manage its wastewater independently, removing it from the purview of the city of Jamestown.
Cavendish Farms is the food division of J.D. Irving Limited, a multifaceted company based in Canada. The Jamestown plant is the only U.S. food processing facility in the Cavendish network, and the expansion aims to secure the plant’s operations for at least the next two decades. Despite the scale of the project, the company plans to keep disruptions to a minimum, with processing expected to continue throughout most of the construction period. The plant is only scheduled to shut down for approximately 10 days.
The expansion is seen as a major step forward for both Cavendish Farms and the local agricultural community. The Jamestown plant processes potatoes primarily sourced from North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska. The company’s strategic approach of sourcing from a wide geographic area reduces the risks of crop losses due to local weather events or disease outbreaks. In rare instances, potatoes have been purchased from East Coast growers to compensate for regional crop failures.
The plant produces a variety of frozen potato products, including fries for major restaurant chains such as Wendy’s and Steak ‘n Shake, as well as proprietary products sold under the Cavendish Farms brand. The expansion comes at a time of growth for the U.S. potato industry, with the 2023 crop seeing a 9% increase in national production compared to 2022. Processed potatoes, which account for more than half of U.S. potato crop usage, have seen a 4% increase in demand for products like frozen fries, driving growth for plants like the one in Jamestown.
Gary Shields, executive director of Northland Potato Growers, which represents growers in North Dakota and Minnesota, expressed enthusiasm for the expansion, noting the importance of increasing processing capacity to provide more opportunities for regional farmers. “We love to see growth. We’re always seeking ways to give our growers more opportunities and obviously help feed the world,” said Shields. He highlighted that the expansion of processing capacity would not only benefit Cavendish Farms but also contribute to the overall success of local growers in the region.
With potato production on the rise in North Dakota, Minnesota, and Nebraska — which are among the top 10 potato-producing states in the country — the Jamestown plant is positioned to continue playing a critical role in the supply chain for frozen potato products. The planned expansion will help Cavendish Farms meet increasing demand and reinforce its position as a key player in the frozen potato market for years to come.
