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Another potential new approach is switching from a five-week schedule to a four-week one. All these chan- ges will not only bring about a considerable increase in production, but also lead to significantly better qua- lity mushrooms. In this new, organic mushroom farm the shorter cropping cycle combined with spawn-run compost will also contribute to greater hygiene levels on the farm. This seemingly typical Dutch-style farm does have its own particularly Canadian signature, with the essential covered filling area behind the growing rooms to protect the filling process from the chill of the Canadian winters. The prairies stretching as far as the eye can see are unique to the location too. All this space gives Loveday plenty of opportunities for expansion in the future.
Loveday’s new inoculation hall.
Growing and harvest Like most mushroom farms in North American, Love- day uses Canadian casing soil, which has far less water absorbing capacities than its European counterpart. Loveday has a well-insulated casing soil hall, where in the future he will pre-wet the casing material. In view of the weather conditions, working with copious water is clearly not a realistic option, certainly not on casing soil that is already cold. A very big advantage in his Dutch-style farm is that Loveday can spray his growing rooms quicker and more easily, at any time of the day. Spraying is also more accurate than in the old farm with trays, and climate control is easier. No supplements or chemical substances will be used on the organic farm, so production there is purely dependant on good compost quality. Since Loveday has started using phase III compost, production has been rising considerably. There were, of course, some teething troubles to start with, but they were quickly overcome. A typically Canadian task is clearing the access lea- ding to and from the farm and the tunnels. If a Canadian grower wants to start filling his growing rooms early, he has to rise with the dawn to clear away the piles of snow blocking the way! On the majority of mushroom farms in Canada, Asian labour is employed for picking. Most Canadian compa- nies have to keep complicated administrative records to allow migrants to enter the country. This includes such things as preparing the work permits and ar- ranging housing up to providing healthcare. After three years, the workers leave the country again, as expected of all foreign labour on temporary permits in Canada. They are succeeded by a new wave of migrant workers, and the whole process of immigration paperwork starts again, as well as teaching a new group of people how to pick mushrooms. The Canadian population is on the rise, and along with it mushroom consumption. This can be explained by the fact that the people mainly res- ponsible for the population boom are new immigrants from Asia. The Asian community are natural mushroom- lovers – which is great news for mushroom growers. Loveday Mushrooms limits its market to serving Manitoba and Saskatchewan. However, with the huge improvement in the quality of Loveday Mushrooms and the potential production rise, Burton Loveday expects his market reach to expand too. The stage is set for the company to become a major presence in the Canadian mushroom industry. ◗
More pictures on the front page and middle pages.
A summer shot. From l to r: Grower Glen Watson, Compost Manager Ian Wat- son, Owner Burton Loveday and General Manager Dennis Danz.
Corridor on new farm.
Production is increasing sharply at Loveday.
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