Chesed Farms Grows Mushrooms

The Walla Walla Chamber of Commerce organized a local farm tour, Tour D' Farm. Chesed Farms, a lo-

cal company producing mushrooms, was a featured participant in the field event. Sundown Hazen, owner, gave an interesting demonstration on the process of raising mushrooms. Their idea for growing mushrooms began during a Walla Walla Food Hub program that stated no mushrooms are grown locally. They saw an economic opportunity to provide nutritious, healthy food for the community. Their goal is to maintain high quality, freshness, and unique varieties of their mushroom products to command a premium price. They strive to localize the supply chain and deliver within a 4 hour radius. The name Chesed captures the spirit of why they started the farm. The word “Chesed” is defined as: Loving kindness, the idea of faithful love in action and often refers to God’s loving kindness expressed in His covenant relationship with His people.

Hazen began his talk by visually demonstrating how they propagate the mushrooms.

Step 1- A small petrie dish containing mushroom spores was displayed that had three hole punches taken out.

Step 2- The spores are then inserted into a 12 oz glass container containing sorghum seeds, water added, where the spores are al- lowed to multiply for 1.5 weeks.

Step 3- This step begins with a 10# bag of wood pellets, water is added, heated to 200 degrees then cooled down and the sprouted grain spawn is inserted into the plastic bag

Step 4- The bag is placed into an incubator room with constant flow of circulating moist fresh air at a constant 62 degrees.

Step 5-The mushrooms are harvested, after 3 weeks to 3 months growing, depending upon varieties, yielding approximately 2 lbs. per bag, Some mushrooms varieties grow better in black bags. Chesed markets their mushrooms to several restaurants in Walla Walla. On restaurant offers Portobello mushrooms, with a meaty consistency, as a specialty veterinarian plate. They also deliver mushrooms to Tri-Cities customers. They have a booth at Walla Walla Saturday market and sell directly to consumers on their web site.

They have the ability to harvest and market 500 lbs week at peak production. An example of mushroom pricing is: Blue oyster and Snow mushrooms sell for $13.39 lb,Shitake $14.49 and Chantrerelle for $22.

We had the opportunity to visit the incubator room and see the growing mushrooms. Chesed also grows Lions Mane mushrooms. This variety claim is that by consuming this variety of mushroom it will improve and help support memory and focus. A participant at the event was taking a dry formulation of Lions Mane mushrooms for those health reasons. Chesed Farms also recycles the spent bags of wood chips after harvest. Once the growing process is done the inert materials become a great soil amendment and mulch. They sell in bags and trailer loads to apply to your garden or yard.

The Washington State Main Street Assn awarded Chosen the 2022 Entrepreneur of the Year award.

Chesed Farms is a strong supporter of local businesses and recognizes the importance of shopping locally. It was exciting to interact with Sundown Hazen, who is such a positive, high energy person. It takes that kind of drive and enthusiasm to be successful in a start up agricultural business.