ConAgra Foods, Inc., Omaha, Neb., announced plans to expand its Lamb Weston Richland, Wash., facility with the addition of a new French fry processing line. The more than $200 million investment is expected to add 128 full-time positions.

Construction on the state-of-the-art processing line is expected to begin immediately, with completion in the fall of 2017. Once complete, the added line is expected to increase annual processing capacity by more than 300 million pounds.

“We have a tremendous opportunity to help our customers realize their global growth projections, but we need to make more French fries to do that,” says Greg Schlafer, president, Lamb Weston. “Investing in capabilities like this is indicative of the opportunity we see in potatoes, and our specific opportunity at Lamb Weston to lead the category. We’re proud to be a part of the community in the Tri Cities, and expanding in Richland is a natural extension of our existing presence here. We’re especially grateful to the community partners who worked with us to bring this expansion plan to life.”

Lamb Weston’s Richland facility was built in 1972 and currently employs approximately 500 people.