Talk:J.R. Simplot

J.R. Simplot is a 501(c)(3) biotechnology company describing itself as, "one of the largest privately held food and agribusiness companies in the nation." The J.R. Simplot Company was founded in 1929 in Nevada and is now headquartered in Boise, Idaho. J.R. Simplot is an international company involved in agriculture, fertilizer manufacturing, and food processing in the U.S., China, Australia, Canada, and Mexico. As the largest processor of frozen potatoes, the company began supplying potatoes for McDonalds french fries in the 60's and is now the major supplier for Burger King and Wendy's as well. J.R. Simplot currently has their genetically engineered potatoes waiting for regulatory approval before they can reach the market likely unlabeled and with unknown long-term affects. J.R. Simplot also produces fruits and vegetables through labels RoastWorks and Simplot Classic. In 2012, J.R. Simplot absorbed Migl Feed and Grain Co., Crop Service Center, Inc, and Dorman Brothers LLC. The J.R. Simplot Company runs two 501(c)(3) organizations also under the J.R. Simplot name, J.R. Simplot Company Foundation, Inc and J.R. Simplot Foundation, Inc.

As of July 2013, J.R. Simplot's annual sales were at about $4.5 billion.

Genetically Modified InnateTM Potatoes
In May 2013, J.R. Simplot submitted a petition to the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) requesting a non-regulated status on its InnateTMpotatoes "which have been genetically engineered for low acrylamide potential and reduced black spot bruise." Acrylamide is a "natural but potentially cancer-causing neurotoxin, released by potatoes when fried. Such low acrylamid levels would remove potato products from voter mandated cancer labels in California. Unlike Monsanto's widely protested genetically engineered New Leaf potato of the 90's which used synthetic bacteria genes and lasted only six years in the fields, Simplot's potatoe only uses the potato genome, hence the name InnateTMpotato. Vice President of Simplot's Plant Sciences, Haven Baker, describes the InnateTMpotato technologies: "The inserted genes come from cultivated potatoes or wild potatoes (a group of related plant species that are sexually-compatible with potatoes). We incorporate no foreign genes, no antibiotic resistance markers, and no vector backbone sequences, into the plant genome." J.R. Simplot initiated USDA regulatory approval in January 2013 for which public comment ended on July 2nd, 2013 and a resolution is anticipated to come within the year. An additional FDA safety review was underway as of May 2013 and could be approved by the end of the year. Once approved, J.R. Simplot will sell its genetically engineered potatoes to commercial growers. The potato products will likely reach consumers between 2015 and 2016, unlabeled, and with unknown long-term affects.

On similar browning resistant genetic modifications, the apple industry has become concerned that genetically engineered apples will put unmodified apple growers at a competitive disadvantage. Bill Freese, a science policy analyst with the Center for Food Safety, predicts that the Innate potatoes will fail, saying:
 * "Simplot's potatoes join a litany of other genetically engineered crops that don't face rigorous-enough USDA or FDA testing...Genetic engineering is a noisy, unpredictable process, where the best-intentioned genome tinkering could be accompanied by unforeseen effects on human health and the environment."

Freese further warns that because potatoes are consumed directly by humans, there have not been long-term animal feeding trials and criticizes Simplot for presenting a "miscalculate[d]" public attitude towards GMO's. It is also likely that Innate potatoes, as with most GMO's, will "require excessive use of toxic pesticides, which do pose environmental risks, create harm to other species and inevitably lead to pesticide resistant insects and plants." CEO of the National Potato Commission, John Keeling, cautions J.R. Simplot to keep their potatoes from reaching foreign markets before being approved. J.R. Simplot began seeking approval in the spring of 2013 for Innate potatoes in Japan, Mexico, Canada, and South Korea.

Board of Directors
As of July 2013:
 * Scott R. Simplot - Chairman and Executive Committee member
 * William J. Whitacre - Cheif Executive Officer and Executive Director
 * Gay Simplot - Director and Executive Committee member
 * Ted Simplot - Director and Executive Committee member
 * J. E. Simplot - Director and Executive Committee member
 * Debbie McDonald - Director and Executive Committee member
 * Dale Dunn - Director
 * Steven Beebe - Director
 * Joe Marshall - Director
 * Terry Uhling - Secretary
 * Richard Hormaechea - Director
 * Robert Lane - Director
 * Amber Post - Vice President and Treasurer
 * Lawrence Hlobik - Former Director and Member of Executive Committee

Executive Management
As of July 2013:
 * William J. Whitacre - Cheif Executive Officer and Executive Director
 * Becky Randall - Chief Operating Officer
 * Scott McNeley - Executive Vice President of Marketing and Sales
 * Garrett Lofto - President of Agribusiness Group
 * Haven Baker - Vice President of Plant Sciences
 * Mark McKellar - President of Simplot Food Group
 * Joel Barker - Vice President and Controller of Agra Business
 * Steve Patterson - Vice President of Sales, Food Group
 * Erin Nuxoll - Vice President of Human Resources
 * Shane Robinson - Information Technology Director
 * Kim Westover - Senior Director of Innovation
 * Susan Collinge - Director of Research and Development
 * Bill Whitacre - Director and Executive Committee Member
 * Connie Demond - Director-Human Resources
 * Kathy Swords - Director of Biotecnology
 * Jim Englar - Plant Director
 * Alan Christie - Director Engineering
 * Derek Shaw - Director IT
 * Ryan Martin - Information Technology Director
 * Ed Cranson - Director / Manager / Department Head / Chief-Safety
 * Val Nielsen - Senior Director Corporate Tax
 * Duane Evans - Senior Director, Quality And Technical Services
 * Dan Johnson - Director Information Technology
 * Janice Dilworth - Vice President, Manager, Director
 * Tom Basabe - Assistant Vice President and Regional District Manager - Central
 * Connie Moser - Administrative Administrator
 * Ken Pyles - Information Systems Manager
 * Brad Baltzer - Marketing Manager
 * Greg Dismuke - Manager, IT Business Integration and IT Project Change
 * Dave Dufault - Business Manager
 * Heidi Butler - HR Services Manager
 * Barbara Weber - Marketing Manager
 * Lori Bishop - Customer Service Manager
 * Bryan Howerton - Database Administrator
 * Traci O'Donnell - Manager of Customer Focus Marketing-Food Products
 * Michael Kissel - Manager of Software Development
 * Barbara Minor - Administrator
 * Kevin Browning - Food Safety Manager
 * Edie Campbell - Information Technology Project Manager
 * Craig Corsentino - Applications Manager
 * Steve Vernon - Food Research and Development Manager

Contact Details
Postal Address:

J.R. Simplot Company P.O. Box 27 Boise, Idaho 83707

Physical Address:

J.R. Simplot Company 999 Maine St., Suite 1300 Boise, Idaho 83702

As of June 2013, the company's registered agent is David E. Spurling and can be reached at:

David E. Spurling 999 Maine St., Suite 1300 Boise, Idaho 83702

Phone: (208) 336-2110 Website: http://www.simplot.com

J.R. Simplot Company Foundation, Inc
J.R. Simplot Company Foundation is a 501(c)(3) run by the J.R. Simplot Company. In 2012, J.R. Simplot Company reported a total annual revenue of $931,389 and gave a total of $875,524 in contributions. Recipients of some of hte largest donations include:
 * Nutrients for Life Foundation - $220,000
 * Ronald McDonald House Charities - $107,150

Board of Directors
As of February 2013:
 * Gay C. Simplot - President, Director
 * John Edward Simplot - Vice President, Director
 * Annette Elg - Treasurer
 * Amber H. Post - Assistant Treasurer
 * Laura M. Peterson - Assistant Treasurer
 * Terry T. Uhling - Secretary
 * Scott R. Simplot - Director
 * Debbie S. McDonald - Director

Contact Details
Postal Address:

J.R. Simplot Company P.O. Box 27 Boise, Idaho 83707

J.R. Simplot Foundation, Inc
J.R. Simplot Foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization run by the J.R. Simplot Company. In 2011, J.R. Simplot Foundation reported a total annual revenue of $5,036,711 and gave a total of $7,236,531 in contributions of which $6,800,000 went to the Idaho Community Foundation.

Board of Directors
As of August 2012:
 * Debbie McDonald - President, Director
 * Scott Simplot - Vice President, Director
 * Gay Simplot - Director
 * Don Simplot - Director
 * Ted Simplot - Director
 * Ron Graves - Secretary
 * Annette Elg - Treasurer

Contact Details
Postal Address:

J.R. Simplot Company P.O. Box 27 Boise, Idaho 83707