Simplot Exploring Idea of New SE Washington Facility

Despite rumors to the contrary, Simplot is not closing its facilities in Othello or Moses Lake.  Ken Dey with Simplot’s Boise office says the ag giant is looking at a new additional plant SE of Pasco.  He told the Washington Ag Network the opening of such a facility is still well down the road, and right now, they are working with Walla Walla County on zoning requirements for existing Simplot property.

“When we finish all of that zoning and such, we’ll probably work on the details, the size, the scope of the plant would be at that point, and then do a more formal announcement with some more details, but I think I can say long term we’re tentatively, if it all works well we’re targeting late 2020 as a potential opening for the facility.”

Dey said while the purpose of this new plant has not been laid out, the hope is it can help the company meet the growing demand of potato products nationally and globally.

“And it will hopefully meet that growing demand we have so we consider it an additional capacity plant, so, it’s not replacing any of the capacity that we have at the Othello or the Moses Lake plant, it’s just giving us a new plant to meet the increased demand we have, and a lot of that we expect will be internationally.”

Dey said the hope is to have the zoning hearing go before Walla Walla officials later this month.

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