In a notable development for Durham Region’s agricultural sector, large scale mushroom producer Windmill Farms has partnered with boutique specialty grower Heartee, bringing together high volume production and small batch innovation under one roof. The collaboration reflects a broader shift within the mushroom industry toward diversification, resilience, and value added growing models.
Windmill Farms operates major mushroom facilities in Port Perry and Ashburn and produces more than one million pounds of fresh mushrooms each week across its Ontario and U.S. operations. The company supplies retail, foodservice, and wholesale customers across North America and has become known for combining traditional growing knowledge with modern production technology.
Heartee enters the partnership from a different angle. Focused on gourmet and specialty mushrooms, the brand emphasizes local growing, culinary variety, and experimentation. Rather than volume, Heartee’s strength lies in producing unique mushroom varieties that appeal to chefs, specialty buyers, and food lovers looking beyond standard offerings.
By working together, the two companies are aligning scale with creativity. Windmill provides infrastructure, consistency, and distribution capabilities, while Heartee adds diversity, innovation, and a fresh perspective on what mushroom production can look like in a modern food system.
The collaboration was recently celebrated at Windmill Farms’ Port Perry facility, where guests from the produce industry, local suppliers, policymakers, and staff were invited to tour the operation and sample dishes prepared with mushrooms grown on site. The event also highlighted Windmill’s composting and growing systems, which are considered among the most advanced in North America.
Community leaders were also in attendance, including Wilma Wotten, Mayor of the Township of Scugog. The mayor’s presence underscored the importance of agriculture as a cornerstone of the local economy and the role innovative farming partnerships play in supporting jobs and long term regional growth.
Greg Ogiba, Chief Executive Officer of Windmill Farms, described the collaboration as part of a broader direction for the company. While the Heartee partnership is not about immediate volume expansion, it reflects Windmill’s focus on leadership, diversification, and credibility within the evolving food landscape.
For Heartee, the partnership provides access to resources and facilities that allow the brand to grow without losing its identity. For Windmill, it offers a way to explore new products and markets while staying rooted in the operational strengths that have defined the company for decades.
Together, the two producers are demonstrating how large scale agriculture and boutique food production can coexist, complement one another, and contribute to a stronger local food ecosystem.
As Durham Region continues to balance growth with its agricultural heritage, collaborations like this one show how innovation and tradition can move forward side by side.
