McCain Foods’ Portage la Prairie Facility Inaugurates New Potato Receiving Area

McCain Foods’ facility in Portage la Prairie, Manitoba has celebrated its 40th anniversary. At the same time, the plant inaugurated a new potato receiving area, writes Food in Canada.

The expansion is the result of CAD45m capital investment by McCain. The new area now allows the Portage la Prairie facility to receive additional potatoes from local growers in a more time-efficient manner, as well as provide an allowance for additional holding capacity and a new cleaning line.

According to the report, Danielle Barran, president of McCain Foods Canada used the occasion to acknowledge the ongoing importance of the foundational relationship the company shares with its employees and growers in the Portage la Prairie community, some of who have been on board with the firm for 40 years.

Manitoba growers annually plant about 26,000 hectares of potatoes, which represents about one-fifth of Canada’s total potato crop.

From 2016 to 2019, McCain made several investments in the facility including one for the installation of a new high-efficiency potato sorting system, as well as for processing/packing equipment. New onside wastewater treatment systems were added, as well as upgrades to the plant’s heating, freezing and refrigeration systems.