The potato processing industry or potato processing market refers to the sector involved in transforming potatoes into various food products and by-products through different manufacturing processes. This industry plays a crucial role in meeting the global demand for potato-based foods, such as potato chips, french fries, mashed potatoes, and dehydrated potato products. The potato processing industry encompasses various activities, including cleaning, peeling, cutting, blanching, frying, freezing, and packaging. With its significant economic impact and contribution to the food industry, the potato processing industry serves as a vital link between potato growers, manufacturers, and consumers worldwide. [1]
The origins of potato processing can be traced back to ancient times before Columbus arrived in the Americas. During this prehistoric period, people used drying techniques to preserve potatoes, reduce their size, and create flour and alcoholic beverages. As the potato became a widely consumed crop worldwide, processing methods were developed for various purposes. Initially, these methods were focused on providing sustenance for sailors and soldiers, but later expanded to meet the needs of aviation, convenience, and indulgence. [2]
Frozen potatoes have been among the biggest types of processed potatoes which are consumed. This is due to the convenience they offer in terms of preparation time and flexibility. They have a long shelf life and the vitamins and other nutrients are preserved in them. Frozen potatoes, as well as the different products[ clarification needed ], are obtained by processing fresh potatoes with advanced equipment at very low temperatures. They are also available in different forms, such as hash brown, French fries, shapes[ clarification needed ] and mashed potatoes and also in the form of topped[ clarification needed ] or stuffed potatoes and other forms. The products are consumed either in fast-food restaurants or by individual customers who buy them in retail stores.
The Netherlands and Belgium are the two top producers of frozen potato products in Europe. Last year[ clarification needed ], Europe produced 3.8 billion euros worth of deep-frozen french fries. About one-third came from Dutch manufacturers (nearly 1.3 billion euros), which amounted to over 1.6 million tonnes, or a weekly supply of ten French fry cone holders of 175 grams per Dutch resident. [3] [4]
Company name | Founded | Production locations | Production size (tonnes) | Employees | Revenue |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
McCain Foods | 1957 | 47 facilities | 22,000 (2020) [5] | $6.8 billion USD (2017) | |
Lamb Weston | 1950 | 6 in Europe | 0.8 million (by the 6 European plants) | 7,200 (2018) | $3.4 billion USD (2018) |
Aviko | 1962 | ||||
Agrarfrost Holding GmbH & Co | 1967 | ||||
Agristo NV | 1985 | ||||
Globalfries | 1966 | ||||
Simplot | 1923 | $6.0 billion USD (2020) [6] | |||
Cavendish | 1980 | ||||
Ecofrost Inc. | 2003 | ||||
Farm Frites International B.V. | 1971 | 6 | 1.5 million | 1,500 |
French fries, chips, finger chips, french-fried potatoes, or simply fries, are batonnet or allumette-cut deep-fried potatoes of disputed origin from Belgium or France. They are prepared by cutting potatoes into even strips, drying them, and frying them, usually in a deep fryer. Pre-cut, blanched, and frozen russet potatoes are widely used, and sometimes baked in a regular or convection oven; air fryers are small convection ovens marketed for frying potatoes.
A potato chip or crisp is a thin slice of potato that has been deep fried, baked, or air fried until crunchy. They are commonly served as a snack, side dish, or appetizer. The basic chips are cooked and salted; additional varieties are manufactured using various flavorings and ingredients including herbs, spices, cheeses, other natural flavors, artificial flavors, and additives.
Convenience food is food that is commercially prepared to optimise ease of consumption. Such food is usually ready to eat without further preparation. It may also be easily portable, have a long shelf life, or offer a combination of such convenient traits. Convenience foods include ready-to-eat dry products, frozen food such as a TV dinner, shelf-stable food, prepared mixes such as cake mix, and snack food. Food scientists now consider most of these products to be ultra-processed foods and link them to poor health outcomes.
A frozen meal, prepackaged meal, ready-made meal, ready meal (UK), frozen dinner, and microwave meal) is ultra-processed food portioned for an individual. A frozen meal in the United States and Canada usually consists of a type of meat, fish, or pasta for the main course, and sometimes vegetables, potatoes, and/or a dessert. Some frozen meals feature Indian, Chinese, Mexican, and other foods of international customs. Another form of convenience food, which is merely a refrigerated ready meal that requires less heating but expires sooner, is popular.
Mashed potato or mashed potatoes, colloquially known as mash, is a dish made by mashing boiled or steamed potatoes, usually with added milk, butter, salt and pepper. It is generally served as a side dish to meat or vegetables. Roughly mashed potatoes are sometimes called smashed potatoes. Dehydrated instant mashed potatoes and frozen mashed potatoes are available. Mashed potatoes are an ingredient in other dishes, such as dumplings and gnocchi.
A corn dog is a sausage on a stick that has been coated in a thick layer of cornmeal batter and deep fried. It originated in the United States and is commonly found in American cuisine.
Dutch cuisine is formed from the cooking traditions and practices of the Netherlands. The country's cuisine is shaped by its location in the fertile North Sea river delta of the European Plain, giving rise to fishing, farming and overseas trade. The Burgundian-Habsburg court enriched the cuisine of the Dutch elite in the 15th and 16th century, so did the colonial spice trade in the 17th century.
A schnitzel is a thin slice of meat. The meat is usually thinned by pounding with a meat tenderizer. Most commonly, the meat is breaded before frying. Breaded schnitzel is popular in many countries and is made using veal, pork, chicken, mutton, beef, or turkey. Schnitzel is very similar to the dish escalope in France and Spain, panado in Portugal, tonkatsu in Japan, cotoletta in Italy, kotlet schabowy in Poland, milanesa in Latin America, chuleta valluna in Colombia, chicken chop in Malaysia, and chicken-fried steak and pork tenderloin of the United States.
Korokke is a Japanese deep-fried yōshoku dish originally related to a French dish, the croquette. Korokke is made by mixing cooked chopped meat, seafood, or vegetables with mashed potato or white sauce, usually shaped like a flat patty, rolling it in wheat flour, eggs, and Japanese-style breadcrumbs, then deep-frying this until brown on the outside.
Hash browns, also spelled hashed browns and hashbrowns, are a popular American breakfast dish consisting of finely julienned potatoes that have been fried until golden browned. Hash browns are a staple breakfast food at diners in North America, where they are often fried on a large common cooktop or grill.
Tater tots are grated potatoes formed into small cylinders and deep-fried, often served as a side dish. The name "tater tot" is a registered trademark of the American frozen food company Ore-Ida, but is often used as a generic term. "Tater" is short for potato. Ore-Ida also markets a coin-shaped version called "Crispy Crowns".
Ore-Ida is an American brand of potato-based frozen foods currently produced and distributed by Kraft Heinz's, H.J. Heinz Company Brands LLC. based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Kid Cuisine is an American brand of packaged frozen meals, marketed by Conagra Foods, created in 1990. Described as a "frozen food version of a Happy Meal", the product is marketed towards children, while assuring parents of nutritional benefits. The mascot of the brand is a penguin named K.C., while the former was a different penguin named B.J. and a polar bear named "The Chef".
A side dish, sometimes referred to as a side order, side item, or simply a side, is a food item that accompanies the entrée or main course at a meal.
Potato scallop is a name given to various shaped potato dishes around the world, including a patty of hashed potatoes, a fried patty of mashed potato, a fried and battered slice of potato, or a flatbread made with mashed potato and flour. In Northern England and some states in Australia, a thin slice of potato that is battered and deep fried may be called a potato scallop. In Australia and New Zealand the terms potato cake, potato flip and potato fritter may be used.
A great variety of cassava-based dishes are consumed in the regions where cassava is cultivated, and the ingredient is included many national or ethnic specialities.
A croquette is a deep-fried roll originating in French cuisine, consisting of a thick binder combined with a filling, which is then breaded. It is served as a side dish, a snack, or fast food worldwide.
Looney Tunes Meals were a line of frozen dinners released by Tyson Foods in 1990. They were based on the characters from the eponymous Warner Bros. cartoons and targeted primarily at children. The meals were discontinued in late 1993 because of declining sales.
A snack is a small portion of food generally eaten between meals. Snacks come in a variety of forms including packaged snack foods and other processed foods, as well as items made from fresh ingredients at home.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Tater Tots became successful enough that the brand name grew to be synonymous with the product, a delightful dilemma shared with other brands that pioneered a product category, among them Band-Aid, Kleenex and Xerox.