ONTARIO, OR — Two prominent names in the Idaho-Eastern Oregon onion industry have joined forces with the announcement of Cameron Skeen’s new position at Murakami Produce Co.

The formal announcement came from Murakami President Grant Kitamura, Vice President Chris Woo and Skeen on June 18, when Skeen officially assumed duties in operations and business development at the onion shipper’s Ontario facilities.Murakami Produce Vice President Chris Woo and President Grant Kitamura welcome Cameron Skeen to operations and business development for the Treasure Valley onion shipping operation. (Photo by Kathleen Thomas Gaspar)

Prior to joining Murakami, Skeen was with Keithly-Williams Seeds Inc. for six years, handling sales in the Pacific Northwest. He has additional background in land development and real estate, and his ties to the onion industry are lifelong. His father, Paul Skeen, and brother, Logan, are second- and third-generation growers in the Treasure Valley.

“I am very happy to be a part of Murakami Produce,” Skeen said. “Because of my work in the seed industry, I bring a very good network to this company, and I see the onion industry from a different perspective. And because I am also a grower, I bring that experience as well.”

Murakami Produce, one of the larger shippers in the region, was founded in 1969 by the late Sig Murakami as the packing and shipping division for a farming operation that had begun in the early 1950s. Ownership took on an added dimension in 2014 when David Murakami, son of the founder, retired and six growing entities formed Murakami Growers LLC and became partners in Murakami Produce Co. LLC.

Regarding the 2015 addition of Skeen to the team, Kitamura and Woo were equally pleased and looking forward to the experience and enthusiasm the new team member brings to the table.

“Our management team and new owner group are very excited to have Cameron with us,” Kitamura said. “We look forward to new ideas, and we believe Cameron will continue the momentum we’re building so that Murakami will be a viable company for a long, long time.”

Woo added, “Our growers want us to show them what we have for the future, and Cameron is able to do that.”

Skeen said of his new role, “Since I was a child, the Murakami name has been iconic to me. I am humbled and honored at the same time to be a part of this company.”