Holburne Mushroom Farm: Three Generations of Shiitake in Queensville
On Holborn Road in Queensville, Ontario, about an hour north of Toronto, Paolo Furlano runs a mushroom operation that most people in the industry would call remarkable. Holburne Mushroom Farm produces roughly 7,000 pounds of certified organic shiitake mushrooms every single week, and they've been building toward that number across three generations of the same family.
The Furlano Family Legacy
Third-generation farming is rare in Canada. It's even rarer in specialty mushrooms, a sector that barely existed in this country when Paolo's grandparents first started working the land. The Furlano family's progression into shiitake cultivation represents exactly the kind of evolution that keeps family farms alive — finding a niche, mastering it, and scaling carefully without losing the quality that earned their reputation.
Queensville sits in the Town of East Gwillimbury, in York Region. It's a community that's seen significant residential growth in recent years, but the agricultural land along its back roads still operates the way it has for generations. Holburne Mushroom Farm is part of that agricultural fabric, a working farm that happens to grow one of the most technically demanding crops in the business.
Why Organic Shiitake at This Scale Matters
Growing shiitake mushrooms organically is not the same as growing conventional white buttons. Shiitake require hardwood-based substrates, precise humidity and temperature control, and longer growing cycles than the common Agaricus varieties that dominate Canadian grocery stores. Doing all of that at organic certification standards — no synthetic pesticides, no shortcuts on substrate sourcing — adds another layer of complexity.
Producing 7,000 pounds per week under those conditions puts Holburne in a category that very few Canadian farms occupy. Most organic shiitake operations in the country are small-batch producers turning out a few hundred pounds weekly. The Furlanos have figured out how to maintain organic integrity at a volume that can actually supply grocery chains and distributors, not just weekend farmers' markets.
The Queensville Connection
The farm's location in York Region also puts them within striking distance of the Greater Toronto Area, the largest food market in the country. Fresh organic shiitake with same-day delivery potential to Toronto's restaurant scene and natural grocery retailers is a significant competitive advantage that the Furlanos have clearly leveraged well.
A Benchmark for Specialty Growers
You'll find Holburne Mushroom Farm at 1337 Holborn Road in Queensville, Ontario.
Holburne’s website describes a family-owned farm that has grown shiitake mushrooms since 2005. Check the farm’s website for current products and contact details.
Before you order or visit
Check Holburne Mushroom Farm’s listed website for contact information and current offerings. Confirm available mushroom varieties, prices and pickup or delivery options directly with the business.
A directory address does not necessarily mean there is a shop open to visitors. Confirm visiting hours and whether an appointment is needed before travelling.
Interested in growing mushrooms yourself? Nature Lion supplies grain spawn, grow kits, and liquid cultures to growers across Canada. Start with our beginner's guide or use our farm profit calculator to plan your operation.
Photos of Holburne Mushroom Farm via Google Places