One of the biggest and best known mushroom farms in the USA is about to shut its doors. When told Quincy Farms will be closing by the end of the year Laura Phelps, president of the American Mushroom Institute, was quite surprised. The departure leaves a regional office of Monterey Mushrooms as the only producer of mushrooms in the state. "If Quincy is closing, that’s the second significantly sized farm in the U.S. that has closed in the past few years," Phelps said, referring to a Connecticut plant that closed in 2006. "There are only about 75 commercial farms in the country, and there (were) only two in Florida."
The Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce and Sylvan, Inc., the parent company of Quincy Farms, announced on December 9 negotiations are taking place for the possible group sale of the Quincy Farms facilities. During the past thirty years, Quincy Farms grew to be known as one of Gadsden County’s largest private employers. On November 12, Quincy Farms stated plans to phase out and close its mushroom growing facility employing 490 people.
The upcoming closure is expected to take place in January 2009 however the Chamber and Sylvan are working together to interest promising companies to take on the facilities, operations, and more importantly, the employees of Quincy Farms.
“I can assure you the Gadsden County Chamber of Commerce, Sylvan, WORKFORCE plus and our other economic development partners are working intensely to save these jobs,” stated David Gardner, the executive director of the Chamber. “We are truly interested in the long term viability of this operation".
The Chamber’s objective is to find a company that can and will utilize the facility and its current workforce. The Chamber and Sylvan said releasing specific details regarding any transaction at this early date could jeopardize a possible sale.
Dan Lucovich, the executive vice president for Sylvan, said, “ We are canvassing the mushroom industry looking for potential buyers to run and manage Quincy Farms.”
2 reactions
| Jonathan | - 2009-02-16 20:58:10 |
| "This shutdown decision was the result of recent events that undermined Quincy Farms’ authority to profitably operate their facility, including decreased consumer demand, increased competition, and the loss of a major customer." http://www.wctv.tv/news/headlines/34458999.html | |
| Saimbi | - 2008-12-20 09:22:53 |
| Am a keen follower of Mushroom cultivation an dprocessing. need to know that these two closures are happening due to the economic melt-down or mis-management of the businesses. It is surprising that food & food processing industry is facing shut downs so early in the economic recession; which should not get affected so early in the downturn. | |
Most popular
_147x110.jpg)
New one layer system
In cooperation with Limbraco, Bertus Baron from Groningen, Holland, has built a unique farm. Picking has never been easier, but that is not all. Click here to see the pictures.
Samfa meeting 2010
On February 16 and 17 Pretoria hosted the annual meeting of the South African Mushroom Farmers Association. Take a look at the photo series.
Mushroom Business Magazine
Mushroom Business is the leading magazine for the global edible fungi industry. Issued bi-monthly in English, Dutch and Polish, it is the premier source for independent information.
E-mail newsletter
The latest mushroom news and developments delivered in your inbox every month.
Click here to subscribe to the Mushroom Business newsletter.
Get noticed!
Make sure your companies' name is out there and advertise in Mushroom Business magazine (English, Dutch or Polish) and our international email newsletter.