Eagle Eye Produce has announced its acquisition of onion packer Baker & Murakami Produce Co. in Ontario, Ore.

Idaho Falls, Idaho-based Eagle Eye is a leading grower, packer and shipper of premium onions with a strong presence in the Pacific Northwest and beyond, and is one of the largest suppliers of potatoes and watermelons in the Western U.S., according to a news release.

Eagle Eye has facilities across the region to support diverse produce programs and is supported by a national sales and marketing team as well as an asset-based transportation division, according to the company, which serves foodservice and retail customers across North America.

Baker & Murakami features extensive automation, artificial-intelligence powered onion grading and sorting systems, “and a track record of delivering consistent quality in the heart of the Treasure Valley,” according to the Eagle Eye release.

The addition of Baker & Murakami complements Eagle Eye’s existing Treasure Valley operations, including its facility in Nyssa, Ore., and its partnership with Central Produce in Payette, Idaho, according to Eagle Eye.

This network, supported by a strong grower base, “creates an unparalleled supply and distribution capability in the Idaho and eastern Oregon onion growing region,” according to the release.

Baker & Murakami — formed in 2017 through a merger between longtime companies Murakami Produce and Baker Packing — “has earned a reputation as one of the most respected onion packers in the industry,” said Newman Giles, Eagle Eye CEO. “Bringing their team and operation into Eagle Eye Produce aligns with our commitment to strategic growth, expanding in the right regions with the right people, and strengthening our year-round programs to better serve our growers and customers for years to come.”

With onion crops planted, Eagle Eye will start shipping from Baker & Murakami facility at harvest this summer.

“After decades of commitment to our growers and customers, we are proud to pass the Baker & Murakami legacy to Eagle Eye Produce,” according to a joint statement by Baker & Murakami Produce owners Grant Kitamura, Jerry Baker and Steve Baker included in the release. “We are confident that Eagle Eye will carry the legacy forward by building on the foundation we established and bringing a new level of innovation, sales expertise and marketing strength to ensure continued success for everyone we’ve served.”

Baker & Murakami staff will stay, and “it should be business as usual” from an operations standpoint, Kitamura said in an interview. “I anticipate a smooth transition.”

The acquisition puts Eagle Eye in a “substantially stronger position to meet growing demand across both foodservice and retail,” Eagle Eye director of onion sales Joe Ange said in the release.

“By adding the facility and team in Ontario to our existing operations, we’re increasing capacity significantly, offering more packing flexibility and ensuring a reliable, consistent supply for our customers,” he said.

Transaction details were not disclosed.