Quality of Murakami’s Spanish Sweets remains excellent, Kitamura says
Quality of Murakami’s Spanish Sweets remains excellent, Kitamura says
Though onion market conditions were less than optimal in late January, Murakami Produce General Manager Grant Kitamura said his Ontario, OR-based company continues to provide its customers with excellent quality in Spanish Sweets, and he said business has remained brisk.
“Our product is very well-received,” Kitamura said, adding that the operation has good supplies and is handling its long-term commitments.
During the 2014 harvest and early in the shipping season, Kitamura noted exceptional quality and a full range of sizes. Ideal harvest conditions “made for excellent shelf life,” he said.
The Spanish Sweets are packed and shipped from the Ontario facility, which consists of 250,000 square feet of insulated storage for 75,000 bins, each with capacity for 1,500 pounds of field-run onions.
As it increases promotions for its retail customers, Murakami also supplies the foodservice market segment as well as export markets. During spring 2014, Murakami installed a third Volm consumer packaging machine, expanding its capabilities to pack 40-pound RPC, 25- and 50-pound boxes and 3-pound consumer bags.
Murakami also practices stringent quality control and food safety, with all protocol, including inspections by Certified Onions Inc., in place. Kitamura said that while harvest is mostly automated now, Murakami onions continue to be hand-sorted to ensure a top-quality product.
Sales are handled out of the Ontario office and through Potandon Produce in Idaho Falls, ID.