Emma Wilson
Monterey Mushrooms is a leading mushroom grower in North America that started as a single mushroom farm in Watsonville, California in 1971. The company has since expanded to nine or ten farms strategically located across North America, including California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mexico. With a focus on sustainability and community engagement, Monterey Mushrooms provides fresh, locally-grown mushrooms to all major US cities year-round, enhancing people's lives for over 50 years.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1971 |
| Headquarters | Watsonville, California |
| Number of farms | 9 or 10 |
| Ownership | Private company |
| Founder | Shah Kazemi |
| Current owner | Shah Kazemi's son, Kyon Kazemi |
| Number of employees | 4,000 |
| Annual production | 250 million pounds of fresh mushrooms |
| Area served | All 48 continental US states and Mexico |
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What You'll Learn
Monterey Mushrooms began in 1971 in Watsonville, California
Monterey Mushrooms® started in 1971 as a single mushroom farm in Watsonville, California. Over the last 50 years, it has grown into a leading mushroom grower in North America with continent-wide reach. The company has nine farms and two processing facilities strategically located across the continent, including in California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mexico.
Monterey Mushrooms is proud to be a private, family-owned company with hands-on, intimate ownership. More than half of its 4,000-strong workforce across North America has been with the company for more than 10 years. The company produces 250 million pounds of fresh mushrooms annually, with growing and delivery operations running 365 days a year.
Monterey Mushrooms was started by Shah Kazemi, a Persian immigrant who had come to the US as a teenager. In 1988, he purchased the company from Amfac, Inc., and under his ownership, it became a private company once again. Soon, Kazemi began buying farms across North America, creating an unprecedented supply chain in the mushroom industry.
The company is dedicated to sustainability and takes its responsibilities as a leading grower seriously. It has implemented initiatives such as water conservation and recyclable packaging and educates consumers on the nutrition and sustainability of mushrooms through ebooks, cookbooks, and mushroom-themed activities.
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The company is family-owned and operated
Monterey Mushrooms is a family-owned and operated company that has been in business since 1971. It began as a single mushroom farm in Watsonville, California, and has since grown into a leading mushroom grower in North America with farms in California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mexico. The company is dedicated to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint by delivering fresh mushrooms and mushroom products across all 48 continental states and Mexico.
The story of Monterey Mushrooms is a testament to the power of family and hard work. In 1988, when Amfac, Inc. decided to sell the Monterey Mushrooms brand, they approached the dedicated general manager of their Royal Oaks, California farm, Shah Kazemi. Shah, a Persian immigrant who had come to the United States as a teenager, jumped at the opportunity and, with the help of his family and stakeholders, purchased the business. Under Shah's leadership, the company flourished, and he began steadily acquiring farms across North America, creating an unprecedented supply chain in the mushroom industry.
Shah's passion for community engagement and education is evident in the company's involvement in local initiatives and its commitment to enhancing the lives of those around its locations. The company also awards scholarships to the dependent children of full-time employees, investing in the future of the communities it serves.
Today, Shah's son and company vice president, Kyon Kazemi, carries on the family legacy. With a degree in business and culinary arts, Kyon is a bonafide mushroom farmer and a key member of the company's executive team. Together with a dedicated group of employees, many of whom have been with the company for over a decade, the Kazemi family continues to grow and enhance people's lives through their fresh, locally-grown mushrooms.
Monterey Mushrooms is more than just a business; it's a family-owned operation that has, for over 50 years, nurtured a sustainable future for the industry, its customers, and its dedicated team.
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They have nine farms across North America
Monterey Mushrooms is a private company that began in 1971 on a single mushroom farm in Watsonville, California. The company was purchased in 1988 by the farm's general manager, Shah Kazemi, who began buying farms across North America, creating an unprecedented mushroom industry supply chain.
Today, Monterey Mushrooms has nine farms located across North America, providing fresh, locally-grown mushrooms to all major US cities year-round. The company employs 4,000 people in North America, with more than half having been employed for over ten years.
The farms are located in California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mexico. They also have two processing facilities for products made with fresh mushrooms in Bonne Terre, Missouri, and San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.
Monterey Mushrooms is committed to sustainability and reducing its carbon footprint. They achieve this by reducing the miles their mushrooms travel and implementing practices such as water conservation and recyclable packaging. The company also participates in community engagement and gives back to local communities through various initiatives, including serving meals at local soup kitchens and donating to local holiday toy drives.
With a focus on quality and sustainability, Monterey Mushrooms has established itself as a leading mushroom grower and supplier in North America, enhancing people's lives for over 50 years.
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Monterey Mushrooms delivers fresh mushrooms across the US and Mexico
Monterey Mushrooms is a family-owned company that has been enhancing people's lives for over 50 years. It all began in 1971 on a mushroom farm in Watsonville, California. Today, they are a leading mushroom grower in North America, with nine farms strategically located across the continent. These farms are located in California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mexico.
The company takes its responsibilities seriously and is committed to sustainability. They have implemented water conservation practices and use recyclable packaging to reduce their environmental impact. With their own vertically integrated supply chain, they can ensure the utmost quality and consistency in their products. Over 100 dedicated trucks are on the road every day, delivering fresh mushrooms to all 48 continental states and Mexico.
Monterey Mushrooms produces 250 million pounds of fresh mushrooms annually, and their growing and delivery operations work 365 days a year. They employ 4,000 people in North America, many of whom have been with the company for over a decade. The company's CEO, Shah Kazemi, is considered to have popularized portabella mushrooms and has been dedicated to the mushroom industry since graduating from university.
Monterey Mushrooms provides all major US cities with fresh, locally grown mushrooms year-round. Their strategic locations and distribution channels enable them to deliver traditional, organic, and processed mushrooms faster and fresher than their competitors. They also have two processing facilities that prepare products made with fresh mushrooms in Bonne Terre, Missouri, and San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico.
The company is passionate about community engagement and giving back. They participate in mushroom festivals, serve meals at local soup kitchens, and donate to local charities and holiday toy drives. Additionally, they educate consumers on the nutrition and sustainability of mushrooms through ebooks, cookbooks, and fun mushroom-themed activities.
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The company is committed to sustainability
Monterey Mushrooms is a private company that began in 1971 on a mushroom farm in Watsonville, California. The company is committed to sustainability and has been enhancing people's lives for over 50 years. With a continent-wide reach, Monterey Mushrooms operates its own vertically integrated supply chain, producing and delivering products with the utmost quality and consistency.
Monterey Mushrooms is dedicated to sustainability in every aspect of its business. The company cultivates a sustainable future for its industry, customers, and teammates. Their commitment to sustainability is evident in their growing operations, environmental impact, product development, and corporate sustainability initiatives.
Monterey Mushrooms recognises that mushrooms are a highly sustainable food source due to their unique growing process. They facilitate sustainable farming, packaging, and transportation practices across their organisation. As a leading grower of fresh mushrooms in North America, the company has thousands of teammates in seven locations, including Mexico, who grow, pick, pack, and ship millions of pounds of mushrooms annually.
Monterey Mushrooms focuses on providing high-quality, sustainable, and flavorful products. They spend 23 days perfecting mushroom compost by using secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw and racehorse bedding, which would otherwise end up in landfills. The company also maximises its production capacity by using vertical stacking, resulting in over 1 million mushrooms produced per acre of land.
Additionally, Monterey Mushrooms prioritises water conservation. Mushrooms require very little water compared to other agricultural products, and the company identifies ways to conserve and reuse water at their farms. They also reduce their carbon footprint by strategically locating their packing facilities across North America to shorten total food miles.
Through their commitment to sustainability, Monterey Mushrooms nurtures a sustainable future while delivering high-quality, sustainable products to its customers.
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Frequently asked questions
Monterey Mushrooms' original farm is located in Watsonville, California.
The company has 9 or 10 farms located across North America.
The farms are located in California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mexico.
The company delivers fresh mushrooms across all 48 continental states and Mexico.
Monterey Mushrooms was established in 1971 as a family-owned and operated farm.
