THE Femia family name is synonymous with fresh fruit and vegetables in South Australia and the iconic family now owns and runs the second largest privately owned mushroom farm in the state.
Brothers Nick and Nat “grew up in the family fruit and veg shop” run by their father and now work side by side in the mushroom business - and they’re passionate about carrying on the family legacy in their generation.
“We’re currently the only mushroom farm selling direct to industry, just like our father was,” Nick said.
“I think this sets us apart and it gives us a close connection with our clients, who we really understand because we’ve been on that side of the fence as retailers for over 50 years.”
Established 1998 SA Mushrooms operates from a modern climate controlled facility located in Waterloo Corner – near Virginia on the fertile Adelaide Plains, with a sales warehouse located in the Adelaide Produce Markets.
The family employs 40 people through the business and produces 20 tonnes of white button, field and swiss brown (portobello) mushrooms each week.
Nick, who is involved mostly on-farm at Waterloo Corner, says prior to diversifying into primary production from the retailing industry, he worked for free at a leading mushroom farm in Queensland to “learn as much as possible about the industry, growing the mushrooms and harvesting.”
He also travelled to Holland a handful of times in the lead up to establishing SA Mushrooms and undertook a grower training course whilst abroad.
Upon returning to SA, Nick and the family embarked on developing land to accommodate their mushroom venture which has expanded from six rooms in 1998, to 26 rooms and two pasteurisation tunnels today.
Mushrooms are delicately hand picked into 4kg boxes to ensure a clean procedure that respects the produce and “results in the most superior product for the consumer,” Nick said.
Whole and sliced mushrooms are also packed into 250 gram punnets and sold in local greengrocers, IGA and Foodland stores.
After vacuum cooling, mushrooms are delivered to the family’s distribution and interstate orders are shipped fresh to Perth, Melbourne, Darwin and Sydney.
“We’re really devoted to working with family owned and independent operators and supporting those business systems,” Nick said.
“We want to promote SA grown produce and support our local industry as much as we can.”
Nick is also an industry advocate and has assumed the role of SA State Director of the Australian Mushroom Growers Association.
“I’m passionate about spreading the word on the health benefits of mushrooms – particularly their ability to supply Vitamin D, which is an essential nutrient,” he said.
“In fact, a Sydney University study has shown that mushrooms left in direct midday sunlight can provide 100 per cent of the recommended daily intake of vitamin D.
“We’ve created the website ‘www.powerofmushrooms.com.au’ to promote all the many benefits that mushrooms can offer.”
