Laura Smith
Monterey Mushrooms is a private company and the largest producer of fresh mushrooms in the US. It was founded in 1971 on a mushroom farm in Watsonville, California, and became a family-owned business when Shah Kazemi, who had started out as an employee, purchased the company in 1988. Shah's son and company vice president, Kyon Kazemi, is also a bonafide mushroom farmer and a key member of the company's executive team.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year founded | 1971 |
| Founder | Shah Kazemi |
| Current owner | Shah Kazemi |
| Current owner's son and company vice president | Kyon Kazemi |
| Number of employees | 4,000 |
| Number of customers | 200+ |
| Annual mushroom production | 250 million pounds |
| Headquarters | Watsonville, CA |
| Number of facilities | 5 |
| Types of mushrooms | White, brown, exotic, baby bellas, portabellas, oysters, shiitake |
| Products | Fresh, value-added, organic, mushroom powder, supplements, marinated, frozen, ingredients, sauces |
| Vertically integrated affiliate companies | Amycel, Spawn Mate |
| Vertically integrated subsidiary companies | Premier Refrigerated Transport |
| Continent-wide reach | North America, Mexico |
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What You'll Learn
Shah Kazemi, the founder and owner of Monterey Mushrooms
Shah's dedication to the company, its employees, and the industry is evident through his involvement in negotiating labor contracts alongside Cesar Chavez during the farmworker strikes of the late 1970s. This commitment to people-first values has remained a cornerstone of his leadership, with a focus on inclusion and acceptance within the company.
Under Shah's ownership, Monterey Mushrooms has thrived as a private company. He steadily acquired farms across North America, creating an unprecedented supply chain in the mushroom industry. The company now has a continent-wide reach, with farms and operations in various states and Mexico.
Shah is considered a pioneer in the mushroom industry, popularizing innovations such as the Portabella mushroom and sustainable packaging. The company's affiliate companies, Amycel and Spawn Mate, further contribute to its success by developing and producing mushroom spawn for growers worldwide.
Shah's son, Kyon Kazemi, has followed in his father's entrepreneurial footsteps. As the company's vice president, Kyon holds a degree in business and culinary arts and is a skilled mushroom farmer himself. He is a key member of the executive team, leading the biotech division to success in mushroom spawn and genetics production.
Monterey Mushrooms, under the leadership of Shah Kazemi, exemplifies a dedication to enhancing people's lives and nurturing a sustainable future. The company's commitment to quality, innovation, and social responsibility has solidified its position as a leading mushroom grower in North America.
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The company's history and growth
Monterey Mushrooms, Inc. was founded in 1971 on a mushroom farm in Watsonville, California. The company was purchased by Shah Kazemi, who was himself an employee at the company. Under Shah's ownership, Monterey Mushrooms became a private company and began to expand across North America, creating an unprecedented supply chain in the mushroom industry.
Shah is considered to have played a pivotal role in laying the foundation of the modern mushroom industry worldwide, introducing innovations such as Portabella mushrooms, sustainable mushroom packaging, and negotiating labor contracts for farmers. He is also the CEO of the company and is known for his belief in putting people first, often saying, "We don't only grow mushrooms; we grow people."
Monterey Mushrooms is the largest producer of fresh mushrooms in the U.S., with a team of over 3,000 employees serving more than 200 customers. The company has the capacity to produce over 175 million pounds of mushrooms annually across its five facilities in North America, including California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, and Pennsylvania. The company also has two processing facilities in Missouri and Mexico.
Monterey Mushrooms is dedicated to sustainability and has implemented practices such as water conservation and recyclable packaging to reduce its carbon footprint. The company also participates in community activities, such as mushroom festivals, and donates its proceeds to local charities.
Shah's son and company vice president, Kyon Kazemi, has followed in his father's footsteps and is a key member of the company's executive team. Kyon holds a degree in business and culinary arts and is a bonafide mushroom farmer, having led the biotech division for over a decade.
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Its products and production
Monterey Mushrooms is a vertically integrated company that grows, harvests, packages, and delivers fresh mushrooms and mushroom products. The company was founded in 1971 on a mushroom farm in Watsonville, California, and became a family-owned business when Shah Kazemi, who had started out as an employee, purchased it in 1988.
Monterey Mushrooms is the largest producer of fresh mushrooms in the US, with the capacity to produce 250 million pounds of mushrooms annually across its five facilities in North America. The company employs over 4,000 people, with more than half having been employed for over ten years. The workforce includes talented farmers and growers, who are considered the heart of the company's story, as well as a dedicated management team, many of whom began their careers on the company's farms.
Monterey Mushrooms operates farms and growing and packing operations in California, Texas, Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Pennsylvania, and Mexico. The company's two processing facilities are located in Bonne Terre, Missouri, and San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico. They supply fresh mushrooms to retailers, club stores, foodservice operators, distributors, institutions, and food manufacturers across all 48 continental states and Mexico.
The company's product lines include fresh, value-added, organic, mushroom powder, supplements, marinated, frozen, ingredients, and sauces. They offer a range of mushroom varieties, including white mushrooms, baby bellas, portabellas, oysters, and shiitake. Monterey Mushrooms was responsible for introducing Portabella mushrooms to the American market in the early 1990s and has since become known as the popularizer of this variety.
In addition to its culinary offerings, Monterey Mushrooms has a nutraceutical division, Monterey Nutra, which produces mushroom powders and extracts. The company's biotech division, led by Shah's son and company vice president, Kyon Kazemi, works with sister companies Amycel and Spawn Mate to develop mushroom genetics, spawn, and supplements.
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Sustainability and environmental initiatives
Monterey Mushrooms, the largest producer of fresh mushrooms in the US, has committed to sustainability and aims to positively impact the environment through its growing practices and packaging choices. The company, headquartered in the US, operates across several major regions, including California, Texas, Pennsylvania, and Illinois, Tennessee, Florida, Mexico, among others.
Monterey Mushrooms maintains high-quality standards in the industry through hands-on, homegrown management of its entire operation, including its coast-to-coast distribution network. The company spends 23 days preparing mushroom compost by using secondary and tertiary agricultural products like straw and racehorse bedding, which would otherwise end up in landfills. This compost feeds the spawn, allowing them to grow into wholesome mushrooms. Additionally, mushrooms require very little space to grow, further optimizing their farming processes.
As a leading vertically integrated mushroom player, Monterey Mushrooms prioritizes sustainability in every aspect of its business. The company has introduced pre-packaged mushrooms for retailers and developed sustainable packaging, reducing its carbon footprint by minimizing the miles its mushrooms travel. They also focus on water conservation, recognizing the importance of water as a critical resource for sustainable agricultural practices.
Monterey Mushrooms has set science-based targets for carbon emissions reduction in line with SBTi guidelines. With a strong market position, the company continues to thrive by focusing on quality, sustainability, and customer satisfaction in the ever-evolving food industry.
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Key people and leadership
Monterey Mushrooms is a private company with stakeholders, but it is not run like a big corporation. The company was founded in 1971 on a mushroom farm in Watsonville, California, and became a family-owned business when Shah Kazemi, who had started working there as an employee, purchased it. Shah is considered to be the person who popularized portabella mushrooms and has been pivotal in laying the foundation of the modern mushroom industry worldwide. He is described as a driven, innovative, and compassionate leader who believes in putting people first.
Shah's son, Kyon Kazemi, is the company's vice president and a key member of the executive team. Kyon holds a degree in business and culinary arts and is a bonafide mushroom farmer. He began working at Monterey in 1992 as a grower and moved to the biotech division, Amycel, which has established itself as the standard for mushroom growth and supplements globally.
Under Shah's ownership, Monterey Mushrooms has grown significantly, and he has steadily bought farms across North America, creating an unprecedented supply chain in the mushroom industry. Today, the company is the largest grower of fresh mushrooms in North America, with over 4,000 employees and the capacity to produce 250 million pounds of fresh mushrooms annually.
Monterey Mushrooms is dedicated to sustainability and has introduced initiatives such as water conservation and recyclable packaging to reduce its carbon footprint. The company is also committed to enhancing the lives of people in the communities around its locations and participates in mushroom festivals, donating proceeds to local charities.
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Frequently asked questions
Shah Kazemi owns Monterey Mushrooms. He began as an employee and later purchased the company in 1988.
No, Shah Kazemi is not the founder of Monterey Mushrooms. The company was founded in 1971, and Shah Kazemi purchased it in 1988, becoming the owner.
No, Monterey Mushrooms is a private company. It is not run like a big corporation and has a hands-on, intimate ownership style.
Monterey Mushrooms is headquartered in Watsonville, California.
The primary industry of Monterey Mushrooms is food products. They are the largest producer of fresh mushrooms in the US, serving over 200 customers.
