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Abstract: The earliest records of the cultivated mushroom industry in Canada go back to the year 1912 when a greenhouse firm in Eastern Canada experimented with mushrooms under greenhouse benches; in 1912, total sales of mushrooms by this concern were $200.00—five years later in 1917, total sales had reached the figure of $3000.00 and the wholesale price was $1.25 per pound. Almost simultaneously mushrooms were receiving some attention on the Canadian west coast where a type of promoter owned cooperative began to emerge where a few very small growers produced mushrooms which were sold through one controlled outlet from which, also, all supplies were purchased. Mushroom production commenced to gather a head of steam about 1952 in Ontario which province has subsequently moved faster in production and sales than all other provinces combined. Today there are about 125 growers in a cooperative plan in B.C.—a medium sized grower in Winnipeg with several other smaller growers in the west— about 44 growers in Ontario—6 in Quebec and none further East. The total production for Canada in the year ending August 1961 is estimated at 13,000,000 to 14,000,000 lbs. of which nearly 60% went to processors of one kind and another. Approximately $8,000,000. is estimated as total plant value and the industry employs directly 900 to 1000 persons. The greatest expansion in the Canadian industry has taken place during the last 12 years during which time production has trebled to the present figure. Growing techniques require wide adaptation. Frequently, fuel is a heavy cost item because Canada embraces a considerable variety of climatic conditions from 30 F below zero sometimes for weeks on end with a 15 to 20 m.p.h. wind in Winnipeg in mid-winter—to 20- 25 F below zero in Eastern Canada with up to 100 or more inches of snow—to the other extremes of Southern Ontario with comparatively mild winters and hot 90 F summers and to—B.C. with occasional freezing temperatures and snow but in general a climate not entirely unlike the United Kingdom.
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