Murakami Produce Recognized For Sustainability Efforts
July 22, 2011 | 2 min to read
Idaho Falls, ID – Potandon Produce, exclusive marketer of Green Giant® Fresh onions in North America, is pleased to announce that its partner company and key onion packer, Murakami Produce Co., has been named one of Idaho Power’s Top Ten Energy Efficiency Program Participants.
The award comes on the heels of an ambitious plant-modernization and energy-saving program undertaken in conjunction with Energy Industries, Industrial Ventilation, Inc., Idaho Power, The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Energy for America Program, and the Oregon Department of Energy.
Murakami’s revolutionary updates included replacing existing fan motors with premium high-efficiency motors with variable frequency drives, as well as replacing all storage control panels with computer-controlled panels to monitor storage conditions such as temperature, humidity, air flow, and static pressure. Murakami also replaced all existing light fixtures with high-efficiency fixtures, timers, and bulbs.
The result is an energy savings of over 1,890,000 kilowatt-hours annually—enough to power over 170 average U.S. homes for a year. “The energy savings is amazing,” remarked Grant Kitamura, Murakami President. “I am very proud we are doing our part to preserve our environment.” Echoing Kitamura’s sentiments, Mel Davenport, Potandon Sr. Vice President of Operations commented, “We at Potandon are proud to be partner in a company that is both energy conscious and a true environmental steward.”
About Potandon Produce L.L.C.
Headquartered in Idaho Falls, Idaho, Potandon Produce is the largest marketer of fresh potatoes and one of the largest marketers of fresh onions in North America. Potandon holds the exclusive licensing rights to the Green Giant® brand for fresh potatoes and onions, and is able to provide year-round supply to any size retail, foodservice, or wholesale customer. Potandon is also an industry leader in food safety and in bringing innovative products to the market. Visit www.potandon.com to learn more about Potandon and www.klondikebrands.com to learn more about the company’s distinctive potato varieties. For information about the Green Giant® Fresh program, visit www.greengiantfresh.com.
Green Giant, the Giant character and related words and designs are trademarks of General Mills – used under license. ©2011 General Mills
About Murakami Produce Co., 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. In 1986, Murakami Farms discontinued its onion growing operation and Murakami Produce became a commercial packer and shipper for many growers. In 2006, Potandon Produce became Murakami’s exclusive sales agent. Currently, Murakami markets onions for over 35 growing entities and is one of the largest volume shippers in the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Region. This region annually supplies approximately 40% of the U.S. onion consumption from September through March and is the only storage onion region that is governed by a Federal Marketing Order (#958). Visit www.murakamionions.com to learn more about Murakami and www.bigonions.com to learn more about the Idaho-Eastern Oregon Onion Region.
Source: Potandon Produce, Murakami Produce Co.