The J.R. Simplot Company welcomed the community to enjoy the company’s 5th annual Free Fry Day on “Fry”day, July 7, in Boise, Idaho. Simplot celebrated Free Fry Day a week ahead of National French Fry Day because “we love fries that much and couldn’t wait!”
The festivities were held from 4-8 p.m. in the beautiful community park between Simplot headquarters and Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP). As in past years, Fry Day was part of the “Twilight Trifecta” in partnership with the Twilight Criterium cycling race.
Showing its Passion for People, more than 116 employee volunteers helped hand out Simplot french fries from the company’s mobile fryer, grilled up CS Beef sliders on the grill trailer and served thirst quenching beverages in the courtyard beer garden.
While enjoying freshly made free fries and burgers, guests listened and danced to music by Bootjuice and the Ashley Rose Band. Kids also enjoyed free face painting.
More than 3,500 members of the community attended Free Fry Day, making it the largest Simplot Free Fry Day to date. The Simplot team estimates it served:
- 1,380 lbs. of fries
- 1,800 burgers
The outdoor community celebration also raised funds for the Idaho Foodbank. The event sold more than 200 Free Fry Day t-shirts, raising a profit of $2,150 for the non-profit.
Did You Know?
Simplot’s founder, J.R. Simplot, started out on his own in the farm fields of southern Idaho in the late 1920s at the tender age of 14, set on entering the agriculture business.
By the early years of World War II, the J.R. Simplot Company had become the largest shipper of fresh potatoes in the United States. Accelerating his success, J.R. created the first commercially-viable frozen french fries in the 1940s.