ONTARIO, OR – Murakami Produce Company LLC has announced that highly-regarded industry professional Cameron Skeen has joined the company as a member of the Operations and Business Development team. In this role, Skeen will work closely with Murakami’s management to increase the firm’s profitability and growth for the future.
"Cameron is a consummate professional with immense knowledge of the onion industry," said Grant Kitamura, President of Murakami Produce Co. LLC. "With more than 6 years of experience as the Northwest territory representative for Keithly-Williams Seeds Inc. and as an onion grower, Cameron is poised to make an immediate impact on our organization, offering a well-rounded perspective of the commodity’s business landscape, a strong knowledge base of modern production practices, and the youthful and aggressive energy our company needs to keep going and growing."
A Nyssa, Oregon native, Skeen earned a bachelor’s degree from Boise State University in business administration and holds an associate’s degree in business from Treasure Valley Community College. In addition, Skeen has previous experience in real estate development and finance working in Las Vegas, NV, which according to Skeen, has contributed to his “real world” business education. At Murakami Produce, LLC, he will support the firm's management team in operation efficiency and improvement. Skeen will also be responsible for supporting the growth of Murakami Produce, LLC through advancing the company’s business development.
"I'm humbled and honored to be joining an organization that has such an iconic brand – a brand I’ve known for many years”, said Skeen. I am a member of a family that’s produced onions for three generations and as a young boy, my family farmed fields next to Murakami’s founder, Sig Murakami. I not only grew up with onions in my blood, I grew up appreciating the Murakami business philosophy, which is built on honesty and integrity. I am proud that I operate with the same honesty and integrity and I believe my appointment will be a perfect fit. I’m ready to utilize my skills and abilities to continue to strengthen the company’s position in the market – through a steadfast dedication to developing innovative solutions in a technologically advancing and ever-changing agri-business environment.”
Skeen is married to Sarah Skeen and has four children, Brady (11), Brock (10), Ian (8) and Maya (6). The family resides in Fruitland, Idaho.
Today's announcement comes approximately one year after Murakami Produce, LLC announced that six Treasure Valley onion-grower entities formed Murakami Growers LLC and purchased the Murakami Produce Co. LLC membership of retired owner David Murakami. Since the change of ownership, Murakami has been able to continue to deliver high-quality onions to its customers with dedicated supplies and a focus on top-level customer service.
ABOUT MURAKAMI PRODUCE COMPANY LLC/POTANDON PRODUCE LLC
Located in Ontario, Oregon, Murakami Produce Company was founded in 1969 by Sig Murakami as the onion packing and shipping division for Murakami Farms, Inc. (est. 1952). In 1986, Murakami Farms discontinued its onion growing operation and Murakami Produce became a commercial packer and shipper.
Effective January 1, 2006, Murakami Produce acquired an ownership interest in Potandon Produce LLC. Potandon is recognized as a market leader in retail and foodservice; customers are supplied with all major varieties and packs in the United States and Canada. The addition, Murakami Produce has tremendously bolstered Potandon's onion program. Potandon also sources potato and onion products from over 80 co-packers in 25 states and four Canadian provinces. Potandon is recognized as an industry pioneer and leader in food safety, quality control, and use of third party (AIB) audit systems.
Currently, Murakami is one of the largest volume shippers in the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Region.
Points of Interest:
Murakami Produce is situated on 30 acres with 17 buildings 60 miles west of Boise, Idaho, just across the Snake River in Oregon. The packing shed encompasses 50,000 sq. ft, with a main packing line and two consumer-packing machines. The packing capacity is 1500 –50# bags per hour. The company has the capacity to store 75,000 bins on site; each bin holds 1500 pounds of bulk field run onions. They have over 250,000 sq. ft. of insulated storages, all buildings have side air systems with instrumentation panels controlling airflow with respect to temperature and humidity.
Source: Murakami Produce Company LLC