Local food supplier began operation during WWII, and is now celebrating 80 years of business
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The following is taken from a news release from the J.R. Simplot Company.
POCATELLO – The J.R. Simplot Company is celebrating 80 years of business this week.
On Tuesday, the Pocatello food supplier celebrated the growth of the company and those who have helped make Simplot what it is today.
The J.R. Simplot Company began operations at its Don Plant on Dec. 10, 1944. This was the company’s first phosphate fertilizer production facility. The Don Plant was named after one of J.R. Simplot’s sons. Today, it’s a flagship operation for the organization, employing more than 400 full-time employees and producing more than 3,000 tons of dry fertilizer products per day.
“The Don Plant is the longest-running fertilizer facility in the U.S.,” said Trish Arave, Plant Manager. “That’s a great reason to celebrate, and I know our employees and the Simplot family are proud of the
longevity and the vital aspect the Don Plant plays in helping us contribute to feeding people around
the world.”
Nearing the end of World War II, the J.R. Simplot Company had become the largest single supplier of dehydrated potatoes to the United States Armed Forces.
Simplot found himself running short on fertilizer. Until 1942, he had been purchasing fertilizer from a plant in Anaconda, Montana, but shipments from that facility were ceased due to wartime shortages.
In 1944, Simplot realized the necessity of having a reliable supply of fertilizers to support crop production in the Snake River Valley.
Because Simplot’s potato production was critical to the war effort, he was able to obtain financing
from the federal government to expedite materials needed to build the plant in Pocatello.
To complement being a major supplier of crop nutrition, Simplot has expanded its manufacturing portfolio to include phosphates used for animal feed, industrial products, fire retardant, and industrial cleaning products. The Don Plant plays a critical role in manufacturing these products that are used by customers across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The plant produces more than 1 million tons of fertilizer a year, supporting both wholesale customers
and Simplot Grower Solutions locations throughout North America. The phosphate fertilizer from this
plant supports healthy crop growth, as it supports root development, energy transfer, and overall plant
vitality, enabling the production of abundant and nutritious foods that feed people around the world.
The Don Plant is strategically located in southeast Idaho near one of the largest deposits of phosphate ore in North America. Today, Simplot’s Smoky Canyon Mine miles from Afton, Wyoming, provides the Don Plant with all the phosphate needed for its production. The Company mines the phosphate rock, makes a slurry, and transports the material 87 miles through a pipeline from the mine to the Don Plant.
Thousands of people have spent their careers working for Simplot at the Don Plant, including some families with multiple generations producing fertilizer at the plant. The facility remains an integral part of communities in Power and Bannock counties and throughout the region.
During Tuesday’s celebration, company president and CEO Garrett Lofto spoke to KPVI about the company’s longevity, saying they hope to be around for another 80 years.
“When it comes right down to it, you kind of think about 80 years as being a long period of time, and it is. But the reality of it for our company is, quite frankly, short because we’re a generational company. The footprint that we’ve had here … is a testament to the commitment of our company. It’s humbling to be a part of this.”