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PHOTOS: Fall tour of Piccioni Bros. Mushroom Farm

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Published: October 23, 2024

Lorenzo Piccioni is a second-generation mushroom farmer.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

Lorenzo Piccioni is a second-generation mushroom farmer.

Photo: Diana Martin

Piccioni uses European technology to offload 38 metric tonnes of substrate and feed it into the growing racks. It takes two hours to finish loading one growing room.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

Piccioni uses European technology to offload 38 metric tonnes of substrate and feed it into the growing racks. It takes two hours to finish loading one growing room.

Photo: Diana Martin

Workers watch for large clumps as the substrate is unloaded from trucks onto the growing racks, breaking up what they can.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

Workers watch for large clumps as the substrate is unloaded from trucks onto the growing racks, breaking up what they can.

Photo: Diana Martin

As racks fill, workers crumble large clumps of substrate by hand to ensure the best conditions for mushroom development at Piccioni Bros. Mushroom Farm, Dundas, Ont. Oct. 3, 2024.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

As racks fill, workers crumble large clumps of substrate by hand to ensure the best conditions for mushroom development at Piccioni Bros. Mushroom Farm, Dundas, Ont. Oct. 3, 2024.

Photo: Diana Martin

Spawn-infused Phase 3 substrate used by Piccioni results in almost immediate germination for mushroom development.

WEB_FTO_DM_FFCOntario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour06

Spawn-infused Phase 3 substrate used by Piccioni results in almost immediate germination for mushroom development.

Photo: Diana Martin

A nutritionist on the Farm and Food Care Ontario tour of the mushroom facility lines up a shot in one of the rooms growing white mushrooms.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

A nutritionist on the Farm and Food Care Ontario tour of the mushroom facility lines up a shot in one of the rooms growing white mushrooms.

Photo: Diana Martin

Mushrooms spawn embedded in the substrate germinates rapidly, and within 14 days, mushrooms have fruited and are ready for selection.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

Mushrooms spawn embedded in the substrate germinates rapidly, and within 14 days, mushrooms have fruited and are ready for selection.

Photo: Diana Martin

Workers in the cremini room carefully select mushrooms, leaving the strongest to grow into portobellos.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

Workers in the cremini room carefully select mushrooms, leaving the strongest to grow into portobellos.

Photo: Diana Martin

Dago Cruz selects cremini mushrooms, slicing off the bottom of the stem before placing them in the appropriate box.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

Dago Cruz selects cremini mushrooms, slicing off the bottom of the stem before placing them in the appropriate box.

Photo: Diana Martin

The strongest criminis are left to grow into portobellos for market sales.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

The strongest criminis are left to grow into portobellos for market sales.

Photo: Diana Martin

Nutritionists file through a grow room during the Farm and Food Care Ontario tour of Piccioni Bros. Mushroom Farm, Dundas, Ont. on Oct. 3, 2024. They were particularly intrigued by the fungi's nutrient value and growing process.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

Nutritionists file through a grow room during the Farm and Food Care Ontario tour of Piccioni Bros. Mushroom Farm, Dundas, Ont. on Oct. 3, 2024. They were particularly intrigued by the fungi's nutrient value and growing process.

Photo: Diana Martin

The spawn-to-shelf facility includes a sorting and packaging area where mushrooms are cleaned, graded and packaged for same-day delivery.

Ontario Piccioni mushroom farm Tour

The spawn-to-shelf facility includes a sorting and packaging area where mushrooms are cleaned, graded and packaged for same-day delivery.

Photo: Diana Martin

  • Lorenzo Piccioni is a second-generation mushroom farmer.
  • Piccioni uses European technology to offload 38 metric tonnes of substrate and feed it into the growing racks. It takes two hours to finish loading one growing room.
  • Workers watch for large clumps as the substrate is unloaded from trucks onto the growing racks, breaking up what they can.
  • As racks fill, workers crumble large clumps of substrate by hand to ensure the best conditions for mushroom development at Piccioni Bros. Mushroom Farm, Dundas, Ont. Oct. 3, 2024.
  • Spawn-infused Phase 3 substrate used by Piccioni results in almost immediate germination for mushroom development.
  • A nutritionist on the Farm and Food Care Ontario tour of the mushroom facility lines up a shot in one of the rooms growing white mushrooms.
  • Mushrooms spawn embedded in the substrate germinates rapidly, and within 14 days, mushrooms have fruited and are ready for selection.
  • Workers in the cremini room carefully select mushrooms, leaving the strongest to grow into portobellos.
  • Dago Cruz selects cremini mushrooms, slicing off the bottom of the stem before placing them in the appropriate box.
  • The strongest criminis are left to grow into portobellos for market sales.
  • Nutritionists file through a grow room during the Farm and Food Care Ontario tour of Piccioni Bros. Mushroom Farm, Dundas, Ont. on Oct. 3, 2024. They were particularly intrigued by the fungi's nutrient value and growing process.
  • The spawn-to-shelf facility includes a sorting and packaging area where mushrooms are cleaned, graded and packaged for same-day delivery.

This second-generation mushroom farm in Dundas, Ont., picks, packages and sells 99.790 kilograms of white, brown and portobello mushrooms weekly. Farmtario reporter captured these images during a fall tour hosted by Farm and Food Care Ontario.

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