Jump to content

Simplot

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 67.164.57.135 (talk) at 18:02, 15 June 2012 (found the new url, so we don't need the wayback machine any more.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

J. R. Simplot Company
Company typePrivate
Founded1923; Declo, Idaho
HeadquartersBoise, Idaho
Key people
J. R. Simplot, Founder
Bill Whitacre, President and CEO
Scott R. Simplot, Chairman
Productsfrozen food processing, fertilizer manufacturing, cattle feeding, and other businesses related to agriculture
Number of employees
10,000
Websitehttp://www.simplot.com

The J. R. Simplot Company, commonly referred to as Simplot, was founded in 1923 by 14-year-old J. R. Simplot near the small agricultural community of Declo in south central Idaho. The business expanded due to high war profits serving the military dehydrated onions and potatoes during World War II. The firm was legally incorporated as the J. R. Simplot Company in 1955.

Simplot made billions from the invention of frozen french fries by one of its scientists, chemist Ray L. Dunlap. By the early 1960s it was the primary supplier of french fries to McDonald's; by 2005 it supplied more than half of all french fries for the fast food chain. Simplot also produces fertilizers for agriculture[1] the mining of which has been a cause of recent environmental concerns.


Simplot is now one of the largest privately owned companies in the world (ranked 59th in Private Companies by Forbes magazine in 2004) and has branches in Australia, Canada, Mexico, China, and several other regions. One of the major plants is in Caldwell, Idaho.

The Simplot company is one of the largest in Idaho and has a large presence in that state, including the sponsoring of Simplot Stadium, and Simplot Sports Complex in Boise. The Simplot company is active in Idaho politics; Butch Otter, current governor of Idaho, was employed by the company for 30 years and at one time served as head of its international division. He is also married to J. R. Simplot's daughter.

J. R. Simplot retired as president of his company in 1973, but remained involved for many years. He stepped down as chair of the board in 1994, and held the title of Chairman Emeritus until his death in 2008. In 2001, Simplot received an honorary degree from Utah State University, honoring him for his many contributions to the agricultural industry of America and, particularly, the mountain west.[2]

Environmental record

Two-headed fish deformity caused by selenium pollution from Simplot phosphorus mines in Idaho.
Two-headed fish deformity caused by selenium pollution from Simplot phosphorus mines in Idaho.

In February 2002, Simplot agreed to buy equipment and pay penalties related to a release of 80,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide from a facility in Pocatello, Idaho. The company violated the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act by failing to immediately notify the Power and Bannock Counties' Local Emergency Planning Committees or the State Emergency response Commission of the release.[3]

In February 2004, J.R. Simplot Company agreed to pay the United States Environmental Protection Agency‎ (EPA) $525,000 and install a $2 million in air pollution control equipment to resolve violations of the federal Clean Air Act at its silica sand mining facility in Overton, Nevada. The violation occurred in 1988 when the company removed equipment required by the federal Clean Air Act to control emissions of air pollutants.[4]

In June 2005, J.R. Simplot agreed to pay a $4550 fine for violating the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act in a settlement with the EPA. The company was investigated for misbranded pesticide containers.[5]

Simplot's own 2012 report, submitted to the Environmental Protection Agency, showed that selenium pollution caused by phosphate mining has been causing deformities in trout such as having two heads, as well as livestock die-offs of sheep and cattle.[6] [7] The selenium levels measured as high as 14 times the legal limit in some areas of Idaho.[8]

Simplot brands

  • Edgell (frozen vegetables)
  • Birds Eye (frozen vegetables)
  • Leggo's (Italian dishes)
  • Ally (salmon)
  • Seakist (tuna)
  • John West Foods (tuna)
  • Harvest (heat and eat)
  • Chiko Rolls
  • I&J (frozen meats)
  • Best Products (Fertilizer)
  • Apex Polyon Products (Fertilizer)
  • Jacklin Seed (Grass Seed)

References

  1. ^ Brandt, Richard (1990-09-03). "J.R. Simplot: Still Hustling, after all these years". Business Week (3176): 60–65. ISSN 0007-7135.
  2. ^ "Honorary Degrees and Commencement Speaker - Previous Recipients". Utah State University.
  3. ^ Bill Dunbar (2002-02-20). "Simplot Settles Emergency Notification Case". EPA.
  4. ^ Laura Gentile (2004-02-12). "J.R. Simplot agrees to pay EPA $525,000 to resolve Clean Air Act violations". EPA.
  5. ^ Chris Gebhardt (2005-06-06). "EPA Reaches $4,550 Settlement with J.R. Simplot for Misbranding Pesticide". EPA.
  6. ^ Cory Hatch (2012-02-08). "After denial, photos show 2-headed trout". Jackson Hole News & Guide.
  7. ^ George Prentice (2012-02-03). "Post Register: Two-Headed Fish Linked to Simplot Mine". Boise Weekly.
  8. ^ Brian Merchant (2012-02-23). "Mutant Two-Headed Trout May Spur Pollution Crackdown". TreeHugger.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Simplot&oldid=497749957"