Grand Forks, N.D. – The mayor of Grand Forks is expecting a European-based potato producer to break ground on a new processing plant a year from this spring in 2026.
Agristo is set to construct its first processing plant in the U.S. to the tune of $450 million.
North Dakota lawmakers also approved $30 million in funding incentives during the past legislative session.
“It’s going to be a huge boom for the potato industry across the state and for northwest Minnesota,” Mayor Brandon Bochenski told The Flag’s What’s On Your Mind?
Bochenski acknowledged that the state funding package was a key factor to secure the plant, which allowed North Dakota to beat out competing states like Wisconsin for the project.
“We have better farmers, better land and people so that last piece made sure it landed here,” said Bochenski.
Agristo is in the process of purchasing land from Fufeng USA to build and house the new facility
Fufeng initially bought the land to build a corn mill plant.
But Grand Forks Air Force Base, which was near the project, advised against it over national security concerns.
The city eventually canceled the deal with the Chinese-based company.
“They’re [Agristo] going to pick up that land in its entirety so there won’t be any more Chinese ownership which is going to be great,” said Bochenski. “We closed the chapter on that and it really ended up being a huge win.”
