Roots Farm Fresh vs. Alexia Foods: A Full Comparison
By the Roots Farm Fresh Team
Alexia is the brand Roots customers most frequently switch from. Both position themselves in the premium, better-ingredient frozen potato category. Both are found in natural and mainstream grocery retailers. But the differences between them are substantive, and for families making a deliberate choice about oil type, allergen safety, and ingredient simplicity, those differences matter. This comparison focuses on two direct product matchups: classic fries and potato tots (which Alexia calls Puffs). All ingredient data is sourced from verified retailer and manufacturer listings as of 2025. Available at Sprouts, Erewhon, Natural Grocers, The Fresh Market, Harris Teeter, Kroger banner stores, and online at rootsfarmfresh.com with free shipping.
Who Makes Each Brand
Roots Farm Fresh is an independent brand founded in 2022, built around a single mission: organic, seed-oil-free, upcycled frozen potato products. Every product is steam blanched, coated in certified organic avocado oil, and frozen raw in a permanently allergen-free, gluten-free, vegan, halal, and kosher certified facility holding BRC AA certification, the highest possible Global Food Safety Initiative score.
Alexia Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of ConAgra Brands. The Alexia brand is licensed to and manufactured by Lamb Weston Sales Inc, produced in a conventional water-blanched, seed-oil-only production plant. The "creatively crafted, chef-inspired" positioning on Alexia packaging is brand marketing applied to a conventionally manufactured product.
Classic Fries: Head to Head
Alexia Organic Yukon Select Fries
Ingredients: Organic Potatoes, Organic Vegetable Oil (Contains One or More of the Following: Canola, Sunflower, Safflower), Sea Salt, Citric Acid
Ingredient count: 4
Oil: A rotating organic seed oil blend. Canola, sunflower, or safflower , whichever is cheapest at time of production. All three are seed oils dominated by linoleic acid, an omega-6 polyunsaturated fat. Research consistently links excess omega-6 linoleic acid to increased inflammatory markers in the body. The "one or more of" phrasing means the consumer cannot know which specific oil is in any given bag.
Organic: Yes, USDA Organic on the potatoes and oil.
Allergen-free: No certification. Not produced in a permanently allergen-free facility.
Gluten-free: Not GFCO certified.
Notes: Four ingredients is genuinely cleaner than most conventional frozen fries, and the organic certification on both the potato and oil is meaningful. The core issue for families specifically avoiding seed oils: the organic certification does not change the fat profile of canola, sunflower, or safflower. Alexia's non-organic House Cut Fries follow the same formula: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (High Oleic Canola, Canola, Sunflower), Sea Salt, Apple Juice Concentrate (To Promote Browning). No olive oil. The same seed oil blend and the same browning agent.
Roots Farm Fresh Classic Cut Fries
Ingredients: Organic Upcycled Potatoes, Organic Avocado Oil
Ingredient count: 2
Oil: Certified organic avocado oil, always. Cold-pressed, not chemically extracted. Smoke point approximately 500°F. Composed of approximately 70% oleic acid, a monounsaturated fat linked to lower LDL cholesterol, reduced inflammatory markers, and improved cardiovascular risk factors. Cold-pressed without chemical solvents. Neutral flavor , the potato leads.
Organic: Yes, USDA Organic on both ingredients. By definition non-GMO.
Allergen-free: Certified Allergen-Free (Big 9). Produced in a permanently and exclusively allergen-free facility. Gluten and allergens never enter the building.
Gluten-free: GFCO certified at less than 10 ppm.
Upcycled: Certified by the Upcycled Food Association.
Classic Fries: Side by Side
| Alexia Organic Yukon Select | Roots Classic Cut Fries | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient count | 4 | 2 |
| Oil type | Rotating seed oil blend | Organic avocado oil (fixed) |
| Oil smoke point | 400-450°F | ~500°F |
| USDA Organic | Yes | Yes |
| GFCO Gluten-Free | No | Yes |
| Allergen-Free (Big 9) | No | Yes |
| Permanent allergen-free facility | No | Yes |
| Upcycled Certified | No | Yes |
| Vegan certified | No | Yes |
| Kosher certified | No | Yes |
| Halal certified | No | Yes |
| Independent brand | No (ConAgra) | Yes |
Potato Tots: Head to Head
Alexia Crispy Seasoned Potato Puffs (Roasted Garlic and Cracked Black Pepper)
Ingredients: Potatoes, Vegetable Oil (Contains One or More of the Following: High Oleic Canola, Canola, Sunflower), Sea Salt, Roasted Garlic, Lentil Flour, Dehydrated Potatoes, Chives, Black Pepper, Onion Powder, Natural Flavor, Parsley, Sour Cream (Cream, Nonfat Dry Milk, Cultures), Whey Powder, Whey Protein Concentrate, Cultured Nonfat Dry Milk, Salt, Yeast Extract
Ingredient count: 17
Oil: Rotating seed oil blend of high oleic canola, canola, or sunflower. Not organic.
Organic: No.
Allergen note: Contains milk. Sour cream, whey powder, whey protein concentrate, and cultured nonfat dry milk are all dairy-derived. This product is not safe for dairy-allergic families and is not vegan. Natural flavor is an undefined catch-all that can encompass undisclosed flavor compounds.
Gluten-free: Not GFCO certified. Lentil flour and yeast extract introduce additional ingredient complexity for allergy-conscious families.
Notes: Seventeen ingredients for a product positioned as premium. The dairy content across four separate dairy-derived ingredients means this product is unavailable to a meaningful portion of allergy-conscious families. The rotating seed oil blend, the absence of organic certification, and the 17-ingredient list round out a product that sits far from Roots on every dimension that allergy and clean-eating families care about.
Roots Farm Fresh Crispy Potato Tots
Ingredients: Organic Upcycled Potatoes, Organic Avocado Oil
Ingredient count: 2
Oil: Certified organic avocado oil. Same oil, same standard as every other Roots white potato product.
Organic: Yes, USDA Organic on both ingredients.
Allergen-free: Certified Allergen-Free (Big 9) including dairy, lentils, and all other major allergens. No dairy ingredients. No natural flavors. No hidden compounds. Produced in a permanently and exclusively allergen-free facility.
Gluten-free: GFCO certified at less than 10 ppm.
Vegan: Yes. No animal-derived ingredients.
Kosher: Yes. Halal: Yes.
Potato Tots: Side by Side
| Alexia Crispy Seasoned Potato Puffs | Roots Crispy Potato Tots | |
|---|---|---|
| Ingredient count | 17 | 2 |
| Oil type | Rotating seed oil blend | Organic avocado oil (fixed) |
| USDA Organic | No | Yes |
| Contains dairy | Yes (4 dairy ingredients) | No |
| GFCO Gluten-Free | No | Yes |
| Allergen-Free (Big 9) | No (contains milk) | Yes |
| Permanent allergen-free facility | No | Yes |
| Upcycled Certified | No | Yes |
| Vegan | No (dairy) | Yes |
| Kosher certified | No | Yes |
| Halal certified | No | Yes |
| Independent brand | No (ConAgra) | Yes |
The Summary
Across both product comparisons, the pattern is consistent. Alexia uses rotating seed oil blends where Roots uses fixed, organic avocado oil. Alexia water blanches where Roots steam blanches. Alexia carries no allergen-free certification and is produced in a conventional facility. Roots is certified Allergen-Free (Big 9) and produced in a permanently allergen-free facility.
The gap is most striking in the tots comparison. Seventeen ingredients vs. two, dairy present vs. no animal products, no certifications vs. a full stack. For allergy-conscious families who assumed a premium brand like Alexia would be a safe choice for a tot, the Alexia Puffs ingredient list is a meaningful surprise.
For families not managing specific allergen concerns who simply want organic potatoes cooked in a better oil, Alexia Organic Yukon Select Fries at four ingredients is a legitimately cleaner option than most conventional frozen fries. But it still uses seed oils, still water blanches, and still carries none of the safety certifications that Roots carries across every product.
How to Cook Roots Fries and Tots
Air fryer (best results):
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F.
- Spread in a single layer, do not stack or overlap.
- Cook for 12-15 minutes.
- Shake the basket halfway through.
- Serve immediately for maximum crunch.
Oven (alternative method):
- Preheat oven to 425°F with an empty sheet pan inside.
- After 2 minutes, carefully remove the hot pan and spread in a single layer.
- Cook for 18-22 minutes until golden and crispy.
Where to Find Roots Farm Fresh
In stores: Sprouts Farmers Market, Erewhon, Natural Grocers, The Fresh Market, Marianos, King Soopers, Harris Teeter, and other Kroger banner stores nationwide. Use the Grocery Store Finder to locate the nearest retailer.
Online: Shop directly at the Roots Farm Fresh shop for free shipping on every order, ships Monday through Wednesday for Wednesday through Friday delivery. Packaging is fully biodegradable and recyclable with a 100% frozen guarantee.
Same-day delivery: Order through Instacart for same-day delivery from a local retailer near you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Roots Farm Fresh fries better than Alexia? For families managing seed oil intake, food allergies, or celiac disease, Roots is meaningfully better on every relevant measure. Roots uses organic avocado oil (Alexia uses rotating seed oil blends), is certified Allergen-Free from a permanently allergen-free facility (Alexia is not), uses upcycled certified organic potatoes (Alexia does not), and uses steam blanching (Alexia water blanches). For families not managing these concerns, Alexia Organic Yukon Select Fries at four ingredients is a genuinely cleaner conventional option.
Does Alexia use seed oils? Yes. Alexia's organic fry line and its Potato Puffs both use a rotating vegetable oil blend of high oleic canola, canola, sunflower, and/or safflower, depending on commodity pricing. All are seed oils dominated by linoleic acid, an omega-6 fat.
Are Alexia Potato Puffs dairy-free? No. The Alexia Crispy Seasoned Potato Puffs contain sour cream, whey powder, whey protein concentrate, and cultured nonfat dry milk , four separate dairy-derived ingredients. They are not suitable for dairy-allergic families or vegans.
Are Roots tots really only two ingredients? Yes. Roots Crispy Potato Tots contain exactly two ingredients: organic upcycled potatoes and organic avocado oil. No dairy, no natural flavors, no lentil flour, no seasonings, no preservatives.
Is Alexia owned by Conagra? Yes. Alexia Foods is a wholly owned subsidiary of ConAgra Brands. The Alexia brand is licensed to and manufactured by Lamb Weston Sales Inc, the same industrial fry manufacturer that produces frozen fries for McDonald's and Chick-fil-A. The products are made in a traditional water-blanched, seed-oil-only production facility.
Why don't Roots fries use beef tallow? Beef tallow is an option Roots has evaluated and continues to monitor. Three factors keep it off the table for now. First, the raw material supply is shrinking: the U.S. beef cow herd has declined for seven consecutive years to its lowest level since 1951, meaning clean grass-fed tallow is the scarcest subset of an already contracting supply. Second, what is commercially available at scale is not clean tallow: industrial rendering produces tallow that is deodorized with chemicals, treated with antifoaming agents, hydrogenated, and typically sourced from feedlot cattle given antibiotics and GMO feed, not the ingredient Roots would use. Third, most high-quality tallow at industrial scale is being directed to biofuels and renewable energy production, leaving the traceable grass-fed tallow available for food use as a shrinking fraction of a shrinking supply. The Cleveland Clinic's cardiovascular dietitian also notes that beef tallow's saturated fat content is so high that a single tablespoon approaches the full daily recommended limit.
The Full Roots Farm Fresh Line
All products are made with certified organic upcycled potatoes and organic avocado oil, seed oil-free, allergen-free, and gluten-free across the board.
White potato: Classic Cut Fries, Crinkle Cut Fries, Crispy Waffle Fries, Crispy Potato Wedges, Crispy Potato Tots, Crispy Hash Browns
Sweet potato: Sweet Potato Fries, Crinkle Cut Sweet Potato Fries, Sweet Potato Waffle Fries, Sweet Potato Tots, Sweet Potato Hash Browns, Sweet Potato Toast, Sweet Potato Croutons
Available in 15oz bags in stores and online. Subscribe at rootsfarmfresh.com for monthly delivery with free shipping, flexible quantity, and no contract.
Related Reading
- The Complete Frozen Fry Ingredient Audit: 10 Labels Reviewed (coming soon)
- Why We Only Use Organic Avocado Oil , And Why It Matters (coming soon)
- 7 Best Seed Oil Free Frozen Potato Products for Clean Eating in 2026 (coming soon)
- Allergy-Friendly Frozen Fries: Why Clean Ingredients Matter More Than Brand Names (coming soon)
- Top 9 Allergens: Here's Where Roots Farm Fresh Stands on Each One (coming soon)
- Seed Oils vs. Avocado Oil Explained (coming soon)
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