In 1927, William Phillips started with a small mushroom growing business in Kennett Square, PA. His early experiments in using ice for temperature control during summer months were a significant breakthrough for the mushroom industry, allowing mushrooms to be grown year round
The tradition of Phillips family innovators continued. In 1961, William’s sons, Donald and Marshall, formed a partnership and expanded the family growing operation into the packaging, marketing and transportation of white button mushrooms throughout the New England area. In 1980, Don and Marshall felt a need to diversify their business and began experimenting with shiitake mushrooms that were grown indoors on supplemental sawdust logs. Their dedication to this project enabled them to become the first successful indoor shiitake growers in the U.S. Additional mushroom varieties, innovative packaging and nationwide promotional campaigns expanded the specialty mushrooms division dramatically over the next 13 years.
