Loving Veggies

The History of Birds Eye

Clarence Birdseye was a man of vision, curiosity and persistence. He was a naturalist, a businessman and a skillful inventor who used his unique gifts to develop a flash freezing process that not only preserved food safely but also preserved its taste and appearance.

Birdseye returned to the U.S. and formed the General Seafood Corporation with some wealthy partners who believed in his process. The partners' financial support allowed the inventive Birdseye to develop and perfect a machine called a “Quick Freeze Machine” that he unveiled in 1926. Birdseye then focused on marketing. He tested refrigerated grocery display cases and entered into a joint venture agreement to manufacture them. Birdseye’s company began leasing refrigerated boxcars to transport frozen foods by rail in 1944. This made national distribution a reality and Birdseye a legend.

Clarence Birdseye’s vision made great-tasting, nutritious food accessible to home cooks everywhere and his spirit lives on today. Birds Eye shares our founder’s commitment and celebrates his contributions to making vegetables for all a reality.