John Dowsett’s grown bored of retired life since his days toiling in Northern Alberta’s oil and gas sector came to an end. He’s considering growing specialty mushrooms in climate controlled sea cans instead. He was in town this past weekend touring farm properties.
To develop a business plan he’s been in contact with specialty mushroom growers across North America — they see their produce sell for as much as $75 per pound.
“My wife and I had always toyed with the idea of moving back to Prince Edward County. Once I learned about Highline, I said, ‘this changes everything’. There’s opportunity here.”
Highline Farms recently shuttered its operations in Wellington. Its owners, the Sumitomo Corporation, invested millions of dollars to build in a new AI-controlled mushroom farm-of-the-future in Leamington — driving a stake through the heart of 50 years of mushroom farming in Prince Edward County.
A native Ontarian, Mr. Dowsett recalls golden summers at his family’s cottage on Lake Consecon.
Those memories suggested his plans might be better suited to the County than Alberta.
He’s hoping the large base of mushroom farm workers already here will help get operations underway. “I would invite any of the former Highline employees to reach out to me with their resumes.”
The fledgling fungi farmer maintains he’s exploring the venture as a passion project. Afternoons of golf and fishing aren’t in store for Mr. Dowsett.
“I don’t need to do this because I need the work. I need to do this because I’m looking for something to do. And if it can find the people that were in the mushroom industry in Prince Edward County and I can help them, that’s all the better.”
To reach out to Mr. Dowsett, contact him at [email protected]
See it in the newspaper
3° Light Rainshower
