Podcast
Questions and Answers
What does the JR Simplot plant in Aberdeen process?
What does the JR Simplot plant in Aberdeen process?
- 500,000 potatoes a day
- 2,000,000 potatoes a day
- 750,000 potatoes a day
- 1,000,000 potatoes a day (correct)
Which county grows more potatoes than any other county in Idaho?
Which county grows more potatoes than any other county in Idaho?
Bingham County
Who is John Richard Simplot?
Who is John Richard Simplot?
America's potato baron; built an empire based on french fries.
What was the purpose of the Snake River Reclamation project?
What was the purpose of the Snake River Reclamation project?
What device is used to sort potatoes?
What device is used to sort potatoes?
Why was Idaho an ideal location for a potato farm?
Why was Idaho an ideal location for a potato farm?
Who was JR Simplot's landlord?
Who was JR Simplot's landlord?
What did the Burbank Corporation use to make dehydrated onions?
What did the Burbank Corporation use to make dehydrated onions?
What are Gold Dust?
What are Gold Dust?
Who was known for freezing foods in the 1920s?
Who was known for freezing foods in the 1920s?
What decade was referred to as the Golden Age of Food Processing?
What decade was referred to as the Golden Age of Food Processing?
Who mentioned that the 1950s was the Golden Age of Food Processing?
Who mentioned that the 1950s was the Golden Age of Food Processing?
Who led the team that created frozen french fries?
Who led the team that created frozen french fries?
What did Ray Kroc say about the french fry?
What did Ray Kroc say about the french fry?
Describe JR Simplot.
Describe JR Simplot.
Who is the nation's leading producer of fries?
Who is the nation's leading producer of fries?
Which Canadian firm became the #2 fry company after buying Ore-Ida?
Which Canadian firm became the #2 fry company after buying Ore-Ida?
What three companies control the American market for french fries and by what percent: JR Simplot, Lamb Weston, and McCain; ___ percent.
What three companies control the American market for french fries and by what percent: JR Simplot, Lamb Weston, and McCain; ___ percent.
How does Paul Peterson describe the current market for potatoes?
How does Paul Peterson describe the current market for potatoes?
For every __ spent on a large order of fries, the farmer earns about __.
For every __ spent on a large order of fries, the farmer earns about __.
What company produces machinery manufactured in Idaho?
What company produces machinery manufactured in Idaho?
Over the past __ years, Idaho has lost about how much of its potato farms?
Over the past __ years, Idaho has lost about how much of its potato farms?
What is the role of Potato Growers of Idaho?
What is the role of Potato Growers of Idaho?
Who thinks forming a co-op may be the last hope for Idaho's potato farmers?
Who thinks forming a co-op may be the last hope for Idaho's potato farmers?
What is the fallacy of composition?
What is the fallacy of composition?
Who says that America's agricultural economy resembles an hourglass?
Who says that America's agricultural economy resembles an hourglass?
What does McDonald's cook its fries in?
What does McDonald's cook its fries in?
What are both natural and artificial flavors?
What are both natural and artificial flavors?
What percent of the money that Americans spend on food is used to buy processed food?
What percent of the money that Americans spend on food is used to buy processed food?
What runs through the heart of the flavor industry?
What runs through the heart of the flavor industry?
What is the world's largest flavor company?
What is the world's largest flavor company?
What is the world's second-largest flavor company?
What is the world's second-largest flavor company?
Smell can account for __% of taste.
Smell can account for __% of taste.
How many of the best-selling, fine perfumes does IFF manufacture?
How many of the best-selling, fine perfumes does IFF manufacture?
What are the basic tastes?
What are the basic tastes?
What type of taste do babies like and what type do they not like?
What type of taste do babies like and what type do they not like?
When did Christopher Columbus set sail to find seasoning?
When did Christopher Columbus set sail to find seasoning?
Who did the flavor industry want advice from?
Who did the flavor industry want advice from?
What is Methyl anthranilate?
What is Methyl anthranilate?
What is the annual revenue of the American flavor industry?
What is the annual revenue of the American flavor industry?
_____ new processed food products are introduced every year in the United States; and how many of them require flavor additives; and how many of them fail?
_____ new processed food products are introduced every year in the United States; and how many of them require flavor additives; and how many of them fail?
Is the human nose sensitive?
Is the human nose sensitive?
Does the FDA require flavor companies to disclose the ingredients of their additives?
Does the FDA require flavor companies to disclose the ingredients of their additives?
Natural flavors must be derived from natural sources.
Natural flavors must be derived from natural sources.
Do natural and artificial flavors contain the same chemicals?
Do natural and artificial flavors contain the same chemicals?
Is a natural flavor healthier than artificial flavors?
Is a natural flavor healthier than artificial flavors?
What is the Universal TA-XT2 Texture Analyzer?
What is the Universal TA-XT2 Texture Analyzer?
Lamb Weston has a production capacity __ times (larger/smaller) than the Simplot plant.
Lamb Weston has a production capacity __ times (larger/smaller) than the Simplot plant.
What does Red Arrow Products Company specialize in?
What does Red Arrow Products Company specialize in?
Who is a senior flavorist at IFF?
Who is a senior flavorist at IFF?
Who founded Lamb Weston?
Who founded Lamb Weston?
What does the Lamb Water Gun Knife do?
What does the Lamb Water Gun Knife do?
Lamb Weston now manufactures more than ____ different types of french fries.
Lamb Weston now manufactures more than ____ different types of french fries.
Who is the plant manager of Lamb Weston?
Who is the plant manager of Lamb Weston?
Study Notes
Potato Production and Key Figures
- Aberdeen processes approximately 1,000,000 potatoes daily at the JR Simplot plant.
- Bingham County is the leading potato-growing county in Idaho.
- Idaho's ideal potato farming conditions include high altitude, warm days, cool nights, light volcanic soil, and abundant irrigation, facilitating the growth of Russet Burbank potatoes.
- Over the past 25 years, Idaho has lost half of its potato farms.
Key Individuals and Companies
- John Richard Simplot, an influential figure in the potato industry, left school at 15 and became America's potato baron, building a successful business focused on french fries.
- Ray Dunlap led a team of chemists responsible for creating the frozen french fry.
- Lamb Weston is the leading fry producer in the U.S., while McCain ranks second after acquiring Ore-Ida.
- The American french fry market is largely controlled by JR Simplot, Lamb Weston, and McCain, collectively holding 80% of the market share.
Economic Aspects
- The market for potatoes exhibits oligopsony characteristics, with a few buyers dominating a large number of sellers.
- For every $1.50 spent on a large order of fries, farmers receive only about 2 cents.
- 90% of spending on food in America is directed towards processed foods.
Food Processing and Flavor Industry
- The 1950s are recognized as the Golden Age of Food Processing, as noted by Harvey Levenstein.
- The flavor industry is concentrated along the New Jersey Turnpike, with International Flavors and Fragrances being the largest flavor company globally, followed by Givaudan.
- Around 10,000 new processed food products are introduced annually in the U.S., with the majority requiring flavor additives; however, 90% of these products fail.
Flavor and Taste
- Smell accounts for up to 90% of taste perception, influencing consumer preferences.
- Babies are naturally attracted to sweet flavors while rejecting bitter tastes.
- Methyl anthranilate is an example of one of the first artificial flavors derived from grape scent.
Regulatory and Health Insights
- The FDA does not mandate flavor companies to disclose all ingredient details if deemed safe by the companies themselves.
- Natural flavors must come from natural sources, but they can contain the same chemicals as artificial flavors, produced via different methods.
- A natural flavor is not necessarily healthier, as demonstrated by the poisonous nature of almond extract derived naturally versus its safety through artificial means.
Technological Advancements in Food Processing
- The Universal TA-XT2 Texture Analyzer evaluates food properties, utilizing data from 25 separate probes to gauge crucial rheological attributes.
- The Lamb Water Gun Knife is designed to slice potatoes at high speed, enhancing efficiency in fry production.
Additional Notes
- Red Arrow Products specializes in smoke flavor, contributing to the complexity of food flavors.
- Brian Grainger serves as a senior flavorist at IFF, highlighting the expertise within the flavor industry.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge with these flashcards covering key terms from Chapter 5 of 'Fast Food Nation'. This chapter dives into the impact of the fast-food industry on agriculture, focusing on potato production and influential figures like John Richard Simplot. Enhance your understanding of the connections between food and culture.
