Prosser, WA-based Sunset Produce LLC is a family partnership dedicated to moving top-quality onions to the marketplace.

“We’re a very large company that’s been built from the ground up,” said Brenden Kent, vice president of sales and marketing.

The company is owned by the Robert and Duane Munn families, fourth-generation farmers. “The company was formed in 1989,” Mr. Kent told The Produce News. “But the brothers have been farming since the 1970s.”

The company’s mission isSunset Produce LLC, located in Prosser, WA, moves a large onion manifest to its global customers each year. Shown here are Vice President of Sales and Marketing Brenden Kent with family partners Randy Munn, Rob Munn, Ryan Munn, Shane Munn and Duane Munn. (Photo courtesy of Sunset Produce LLC) clear: “We’re a one-stop onion shop,” Mr. Kent stated.

A major facilities upgrade was completed in 2007, and electronic equipment was installed.

“The old sizers were roller sizers,” Mr. Kent said. “Electronics give us consistent quality with sizing.” Floor space more than doubled, and the upgrade nearly doubled efficiency and throughput. “It made our whole operation more efficient,” he added.

Mr. Kent joined Sunset Produce in 2003, a year when the company produced 2 million sacks of onions. Today, volume is just under 4 million sacks. “It’s not uncommon to ship 5,000 truckloads a year,” he said.

Duane Munn recently purchased the Paterson Onion facility in Paterson, WA. Mr. Kent said this will increase Sunset Produce’s overall capacity by approximately 20 percent.

The company’s philosophy is hands-on at every level. “That’s one of the unique things,” Mr. Kent observed. “We grow everything we sell. Our owners are heavily involved with all phases of growing and management.”

In addition to conventional onions, Sunset Produce also grows and markets organic product. “Organic is a niche market,” Mr. Kent said. “There’s a place for everything our consumers want. We can meet any kind of demand.”

Sunset Produce handles colored varieties and sweet onions approximately nine months out of the year. Mr. Kent said that window could extend over time as new domestic onion varieties are added to the manifest in the future.

The company has a broad customer base. “We’re heavy to retail,” Mr. Kent said, adding that the market sector accounts for approximately 50 percent of all onion sales. Onions are also sold to foodservice and terminal market clients. On the export side, Mr. Kent said that product is moved into Canada, Mexico and Asia. Markets are also emerging for the company in the Middle East and South America.

Onions are marketed under the “Sunset,” “America’s Pride,” “Dollar Bill” and “Columbia Gold” labels. Certified sweet onions are marketed under the “Heavenly Sweet” label, and organic onions are marketed under the “Wholesome Grown” label.

A full range of packaging options is available to meet customer demand. “We are looking into higher-end packaging for our retail customers,” Mr. Kent said, adding that new packaging options are on the drawing board for a release this fall.