Chapter 5 "Why the Fries Taste Good"

Who is J.R. Simplot? What connection does J. R. Simplot have to the fast food industry?

J.R. Simplot is the owner of the J.R. Simplot plant. His plant is one of the largest french fry makers in the world. He started off just working on farms harvesting potatoes, then eventually opened his own plant. His connection with the fast food industry is through business. He was the largest exporter of frozen fries to McDonald's.



How have the potato farms in Idaho changed in the last 25 years or so?

Potato farms have changed tremendously in the past 25 years. Most farms that were individually run have closed. More and more big industries are coming in and just taking over the smaller competition. Big companies are buying from the big plants, and the smaller farms don't stand a chance. In the last 25 years, smaller farms have shut down and have been taken over by big companies who export to big buyers.