South Mill participates in the Kennett School District’s first ever Science Fair.

At the end of September of this year, Kaolin Mushroom Farms, Inc., was the only mushroom/agricultural company in the area to be invited to participate in the Kennett School District’s first ever Science Fair. For 2 days, Kaolin representatives met with groups of students from 4th through 8th grade to present and demonstrate the process and science of mushroom growing. Hundreds of students got the chance to wear hairnets and beard nets and see and hear about the skills and knowledge needed to grow, harvest and transport mushrooms, the largest cash crop in Pennsylvania. Time will tell as to how many were inspired at the Science Fair to become future mushroom growers.

South Mill Assumes the Business of Manfredini Enterprises!!!

On 8-1-2009, South Mill assumed the business of Manfredini Enterprises, a local mushroom distributor domiciled in Landenberg pa, with operations in North Lima Ohio and Louisville Kentucky. Manfredini and South Mill had enjoyed a 25 year independent relationship prior to this integration. For South Mill, benefits include a supply base of quality mushrooms from contracted growers developed by Manfredini over the years as well as an excellent customer base in 5 states. Food Safety enhancements as well as availability to additional product lines, both mushrooms and non-mushrooms, cold storage and frozen services as well as enhanced transportation services are benefits that the Manfredini customer base can take advantage of under the South Mill relationship

South Mill Becomes a Smoke-Free Zone!

On June 1st 2009, South Mill become 100% completely smoke free! South Mill is the only mushroom company to implement no smoking regulations, in turn making its employees and visitors very happy!

South Mill Takes Research and Development Seriously!!!

To continue its worldwide cutting edge industry practices, South Mill takes the issue of on-going research and development seriously. At any one time, the company has approximately 15-20 R&D projects underway. During the year 2008, the company engaged, system wide, 42 R&D projects touching all areas of the company from cultural and growing issues, to cost savings and formulation changes, energy initiatives and process improvements.

First mushroom farm in the country to pass the new USDA, farm level food safety audit!!!

In December of 2008 South Mill achieved another milestone in the industry. The concern and level of focus in the area of food safety on the part of the domestic mushroom industry has resulted in a cooperative initiative between mushroom industry leaders and the USDA. The purpose of this effort is to establish a farm auditing program, blessed by USDA, that would enhance food safety protocols according to a set of standards higher than any previously in place in our industry.

South Mill volunteered to be the first farm audited. That audit was conducted on December 18, 2008. The attainment of a nearly perfect score will hopefully serve as a message to the rest of our industry that food safety should occupy the top priority of mushroom industry management, industry wide, in an effort to protect not only the consumers of our products but the basic existence of the mushroom industry itself

South Mill maintains and hopes that the industry will come to recognize that while the cost of compliance is high the cost of non-compliance can be devastating. We encourage the industry to embrace this initiative now and into the ever increasing demands of the future. Click Here for USDA Audit Photo & article

Opening May 2009 – Freezing Line & Frozen / Cold Storage Services

Our newest expansion, our IQF freezing line and cold storage operation will open in the 2nd quarter of 2009. South Mill will offer sliced or diced mushrooms, processed to customer’s specifications, as well as co packing services. Please call our sales department for more information.

For custom freezing and storage services please contact Mark Moran mmoran@southmill.com at 610-444-4800 ext: 217. For frozen mushroom sales, please contact Vince Versagli vversagli@southmill.com at 610-444-4800 ext: 269