J.R. Simplot was a high school dropout who developed the
first freeze-dried potatoes and vegetables for the U.S.
Army, during WWII in Europe. The longer shelf-life and
easy reconstitution of Simplot’s frozen vegetables
helped ensure troops overseas could be kept stocked with
food needed during the war.
At the end of the war Simplot signed a
contract with Ray Kroc at Mc Donald's to provide
frozen French fries. It provides McDonald’s with more
than 50% of its French fries worldwide.