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.r\'"J~" r,~ Ij'L'......... oJ JENSEN FARMS, INC. The Jensen Farms near Weldona has survived through good times and bad for the past 50 years. All of the pocatoes grown at the Morgan County operation are used to produce potato chips. The 900+ acres are contracted with such chip giants as Frito Lay, Eagle Snacks, and Tom's Foods. The Jensens do not sell their crop on the open market. The Jensen family's stake in potato farming began with Irving Jensen in 1943. Back then the family planted table potatoes. When Don Jensen took over management from his father, the family landed a contract with Red Seal for potato chip varieties in 1958 and a Frito Lay contract in 1962. It takes about 33 pounds of potatoes to make one pound of chips. Planting takes about 1 1/2 months, and the harvest is slo"', lasting from August until mid-October. The bulky nature of the crop limits trucks to 300 sacks per load. . Number of acres of potatoes planted This spring, 1,000-1,100 acres were planted. , Water needed to grow the pocatoes Early in the season, young plants require about 1" of water every three days. During June, July, and August, about 2" of water a week is required during this main growing season. Jensen Farms uses a center-pivot irrigation system. LEPRINO FOODS Leprino Foods was started by Mike Leprino Sr. in 1914 as a grocery shop in Denver. In 1962 the company was incorporated. The company is privately owned and his son, James Leprino, is chair of the board. Leprino is the largest supplier of pizza cheese in the world. It is headquartered i~ Denver and produces 500 million pounds annually. It is the company inventor of Quality Locked Control cheese which is a process in which chees~ does not age. The company owns 9 distribution centers. '9 manu- facturing facilities, and 4 transportation facilities throughout the United States and employs over 2,000 people nationwide. Besides mozzarella, they produce other Italian cheeses, string cheese, cream cheese, butter fat products, and Grade A whey protein. The Fort Morgan plant broke ground in July of 1992. It originally was constructed to produce string cheese. However, now the plant will produce its QLC cheese and pharmacy grade lactose for use in medicine. Leprino will employ in the neigh- borhood of 150 in the 120,000 square foot building. It opened January 4, 1994 employing 100. 27 - 32 trucks a day pass through the plant. The milk is supplied by another COlorado company, Western Dairymen Cooperative Inc. and they have a 20 year con- tract wi th them. In fact, it was the proximity to the milk supply and the area's eagerness and support which brought Leprino 3