In January, Mother Earth Mushrooms introduced a new exotic retail blend of mushroom varieties and in July it began exploring the concept of producing organic dried mushrooms and powders for the organic community.

For many years, Louis Caputo has joked that Caputo and Guest has been the “little brother” of the mushroom industry. Because when big retail companies ordered mushrooms, the mostly ordered common varieties from large suppliers.

“And they’d have this little portion of the order that was specialty mushrooms,” said Caputo, chief operating officer for Caputo and Guest, headquartered in in Kennett Square, PA. “The big mushroom growers would just call us and buy their specialty mushrooms from us. And that really created a barrier for us.”

Phillips Mushroom Farms, a leading producer of fresh mushrooms based in Kennett Square, PA, will soon have more mushrooms to offer customers as a result of a large-scale expansion of its farming operations.

Buona Foods is a fourth-generation, family owned and operated mushroom farm located in the Mushroom Capital of the World. Buona Foods began growing mushroom in 1975, selling them to local restaurants. Over time, the focus shifted to supplying retailers in the region.

With a relatively new management team now firmly in place, Canada-based Highline Mushrooms is intent on being the No. 1 mushroom brand in the region with regard to growing practices, products and packaging.

“We want to be known for our innovation and quality and our sustainability efforts and be the top brand in North America,” said Jose Cambon, who was appointed as the new chief executive officer late last year after having been in the fresh mushroom business in Australia for a dozen years. “Our ownership structure is very supportive of these goals.”

Basciani Foods has been a go-to company for mushrooms since 1925, with the fifth-generation company growing a variety of white mushrooms and exotics. The company packs for national retail grocery store chains, restaurant chains and foodservice distributors across the U.S.