Grand Forks, North Dakota: Agristo, a Belgium-based potato processor known for its frozen potato products has officially begun preparing the site for its first U.S. processing facility in Grand Forks.
Once complete, the facility will process thousands of tons of potatoes annually into French fries, hashbrowns, and other frozen specialties to be distributed throughout the U.S and the world.
The facility will provide local potato growers with a new processing outlet in the Red River Valley. Once operational, the facility hopes to see increased potato production in the region – opening new contracting opportunities and fostering stronger partnerships among seed producers, growers, and processors.
“We have started making ground improvements to prepare the site foundation before winter hits,” said Ruben Devos, Agristo Grand Forks Project Director. “Our goal is to begin commissioning in June 2027, when we will start production trials to adjust the efficiency of the processing line. In the meantime, we will be forming our U.S.-based leadership team to ensure a smooth startup when the facility is ready for commercial production.”
Meeting the demand of a processing facility of this scale requires careful planning from growers and agronomists alike, and Agristo’s agronomy team has already begun mapping out its acreage and storage needs in preparation of the facility’s 2028 opening.
“Based on current calculations, we will need somewhere between 20,000 and 23,000 acres of potatoes each year split between irrigated and dryland,” said Jochem Rovers, Head of Agro International Development for Agristo.
Supplying that many acres begins long before harvest with a need for seed potatoes. Local seed growers are already making an investment to prepare for the increased demand.
“The first two seed growers have already started with an investment in bulk storage, which is needed to sort and grade the seeds in the wintertime,” explained Rovers. “This will ensure that once we are operational, seeds will be prepared and ready to be shipped to commercial growers each spring.”
While still a few years away from the first French fries, Agristo and its project partners are laying the foundation for long-term success in the Red River Valley.
To commemorate the construction of the Agristo facility, an official ground-breaking ceremony is being planned for April 2026.
For more information about Agristo Grand Forks, visit agristo.com/grand-forks
