Fresh - never frozen - french fries are coming to Canada

A long-time potato farmer in Ontario, Canada is getting into the french fry business. 

Gerry Philippe's new product — called Farmhouse Fresh Fries — are partially cooked in oil and put in a pouch, but they are never frozen. Philippe said his fries also have no preservatives or chemicals. 

“The buyer at Loblaws looked at the ingredient deck and immediately said, ‘oh, potatoes and oil, that's the exact packaging I look for [when grocery shopping] for my family’,” Philippe said. 

“So he's reading labels and we think other people are as well.” 

The new product is being made at Philippe’s Blezard Valley farm, Valley Growers. 

The cut potatoes are first blanched in a high-powered fryer and then, after a trip to the cooler, the fries are packed in pouches. 

Once taken home and baked in the oven, the fries will taste as close to chip stand fries as one can get without deep-frying, Philippe said. 

“We wanted to be able to offer a very natural product, free of colours, free of preservatives, free of chemicals, and non-GMO,” he continued. 

Philippe said he'll grow enough potatoes on his farm, called Valley Growers, to feed his new plant. 

Farmhouse Fresh Fries will be on shelves in the packaged salad section in Ontario and Quebec by the end of March. Philippe said they'll likely cost about $3.50.