Local farmer Ryan Tarabocchia hopes to expand his mushroom farm’s production, a first-of-its-kind operation for this city, across the region.
After a major spinal fusion surgery last February Tarabocchia was forced to quit his job in construction.
Not knowing what he would do to provide for his family, Tarabocchia began doing market research in Thunder Bay. That research led him to discover there’s a large demand for mushrooms in the city but no local supply.
He began the CEDC starter company program immediately. They helped him with his business plans and he said the mentorship from the program was extremely helpful.
“(The mushroom farm) is just a preliminary set up right now,” Tarabocchia said after a year of hard work.
“This (set up) is good enough for us to get about 600 pounds a week, and it gives us the opportunity to hash out all the problems that come up.”
Tarabocchia’s Northwest Gourmet Mushrooms farm grows Oyster mushrooms, which are one of the most widely eaten mushrooms in the world.
Mushroom production takes about a month to two months depending on the type of mushrooms growing.
There’s several processes starting with the spawn production, straw logs and finishing with the harvest.
“There’s a wide variety of these mushrooms that grow in these same conditions, he said. “So with an expansion I’m hoping to put in more grow rooms to produce a wider variety.”
The farm is selling to about 10 restaurants, including Nook, Bite, Tomlin, Sovereign Room and the Thunder Bay Country Market.
Tarabocchia’s goal is to expand and become the mushroom provider for Northwestern Ontario.
