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The Ortiz family works together to ensure the success of Liberty Mushrooms, LLC and Ortiz Shiitake Mushrooms, Inc. in Kennett Square, PA. Parents Norma and Martin (center) passed along a strong work ethic to their sons Johnathan (left) and Martino.
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Shiitake were the first mushroom crop Martin grew for himself. These flavorful mushrooms grow in pre-inoculated logs and are handharvested at the peak of flavor.
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Proven leadership
leads to success in mushroom industry story and photos by Sally Scholle
Martin Ortiz makes mushroom growing look easy. His mushroom houses are clean and productive, and his employees are hard-working and happy. But cultivating mushrooms is anything but easy. A successful and profitable harvest involves a lot of hard work along with knowledge and intuition.
a new American Spend just a little time with Martin and Norma Ortiz and their two sons, and it’s easy to see how they’ve turned an opportunity into the thriving businesses they call Ortiz Shiitake Mushrooms, Inc. and Liberty Mushrooms in Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. When Martin came to the United States from Mexico as a 16-year old seeking work, his brother was already employed in Chester County’s mushroom growing industry. Martin quickly found work as a mushroom picker. But Martin didn’t last as a picker. His employer recognized his leadership ability, and after just three months of working as part of a harvest crew, Martin became a team leader. Not long after that promotion, Martin became a truck driver, entrusted with delivering a highly perishable crop to packers.
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Martin obtained permanent residency in 1987 and citizenship in 2001. During that time, his employer offered Martin another opportunity: to become an assistant grower. “That’s when I learned how to grow mushrooms,” says Martin. “I used to do three jobs: delivery, take care of the guys (work crews) and head grower.” The hours were long and hard, but Martin learned as he worked. He paid close attention to every aspect
of the business and developed the skills required to grow mushrooms.
a new venture Martin says that he always wanted to have his own mushroom growing business, so when his employer at the time gave him 50 shiitake logs, Martin was quick to recognize the opportunity. In 1999 Martin and Norma established Ortiz Shiitake Mushrooms, Inc. “I used to grow 5,000 or 6,000 logs a week,” says Martin, adding that his wife Norma helped him pick and pack the Shiitake mushrooms. “I had 20,000 logs in production at one time, and we picked three pounds from each log.” Shiitake mushrooms are grown on logs that have been inoculated with
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Farm Credit loan officer Jay Shannon harvests mushrooms as Martin guides him through the process. Martin recognizes and appreciates the skill required to harvest mushrooms properly and efficiently.
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In addition to helping Martin with nearly all aspects of the family’s business, Norma manages the books for both Liberty Mushrooms and Ortiz Shiitake Mushrooms.
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Martin demonstrates how an experienced picker deftly plucks several mushrooms at one time, and then trims the stems to a certain length before gently placing them in a box.