Food Procesing
The late J.R. Simplot, the Idaho self-made billionaire, opened his first French fry plant in Caldwell, Idaho, and food processing has flourished in the Treasure Valley ever since. The Boise Valley is home to a wide variety of food processing companies – from sugar to chocolate, salsa, dairy, tortillas, jams and appetizers. Supported by University of Idaho research, extension and incubator programs, food processing is the largest manufacturing employment sector in Idaho, adding $4 billion in value to Idaho’s raw farm commodities.
Caldwell is an ideal place for companies to start at the UI Food Technology Center, which serves as a pilot plant for new products in the incubator stage. Nampa has a long history in food processing as the home of the Amalgamated Sugar plant and the Sorrento Lactalis cheese factory. The nearby farm community of Emmett is on the cusp of becoming a key location for food processing companies because of its active work force (the majority of workers there are trained in manufacturing), appealing rural lifestyle and open space in the Shadow Butte Industrial Park.
Click on the topics below to find more information on: