Production in Lamb Weston sweet potato processing plant expected to start in September

ConAgra Foods, which began training its final group of 80 employees this week to complete its 241-person work force, should begin production at its new Lamb Weston sweet potato processing plant near Delhi in less than a month, officials said Monday.

Company officials provided plant tours for about 100 local growers, politicians and community leaders Monday who were giddy about the project, which was landed with the help of up to $34.7 million in state economic development funding.

Sweet potato grower Lev Dawson called the project “thrilling” for farmers, and Delhi Mayor Lynn Lewis said his town is buzzing with economic activity.

Dawson said the facility, which will process more than 20 frozen sweet potato products, most of them variations of French fries, will be a direct buyer for growers.

“It’s going to make a huge difference,” he said. “In the past, a lot of potatoes have been left in the field or sold to canners, and you had to take whatever price they gave. These will be contract prices.”

Rob Owen of Lamb Weston’s marketing arm said the Delhi plant is the first of its kind in the world devoted strictly to sweet potatoes.