CAMARILLO, CA – With 39 years of service to the fresh produce industry, Houweling’s Group is pleased to congratulate and announce the retirement of RJ Deakins after an accomplished produce career in sales management.
RJ’s history in the produce industry extends back to 1979, when he began working with Sunkist. He then worked for Perricone, Genova & Associates, Eco Farms, Oceanside Produce, and Sun Pacific before finally becoming an integral member of Houweling’s sales team in 2011.
At an intimate gathering of Houweling’s colleagues to celebrate his retirement, RJ reflected on his nearly 40 years in the industry, recalling fondly the many people he had met and the incredible changes he has seen since starting at Sunkist. In his speech, he revealed his greatest pride in looking back is the relationships he forged with colleagues and customers over the years.
Reflective of RJ’s strong character and ability to maintain personal connections is his eulogy for his second-grade teacher a few years back. His ability to foster and maintain strong relationships over the years is also something of value he carried into his professional life.
A man of many interests, RJ is an accomplished body surfer, competing in last year’s Manhattan Beach Gillis Body Surfing Competition, and finishing 3rd in the Master’s division. He swims every day, enjoys the serenity of the golf course, can talk Lakers Basketball to anyone, and is an avid reader and music lover.
In retirement RJ will have the opportunity to pursue his athletic and intellectual passions, while spending more time with his wife Ruthie, and their adult children Casey and Brooke. All at Houweling’s, including his customers and former colleagues, offer RJ thanks for his dedication to our industry, and we here at AndNowUKnow wish him the best in his retirment.
Houweling’s Group is an industry leading greenhouse vegetable grower, propagator and marketer with operations in Delta, BC; Camarillo, CA; Mona, Utah; and Loveland, CO. A year-round grower, with over 200 acres of greenhouse farms, Houweling’s sustainably produces fresh and flavorful tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
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