Highline celebrates 50 years

Canada's largest mushroom grower is celebrating its 50th anniversary, right here in Leamington.

Highline Mushrooms, founded in 1961 by Dr. Murray O'Neil, is marking a half-century of supplying mushrooms to families across North America.

The company began rather modestly — in a small eight-room farm but has grown over the years to include four farms (two in Leamington, one in Wellington, and the newest in Kingsville) — making it the largest in Canada and the third largest in North America. Highline also has a distribution centre in Montreal.

Original shareholders Willie and Joyce Zimmermann and Harry Enns continue to be active in the daily operations of the farms.

"Survival and continuous growth for 50 years can only be achieved with the efforts and support of many," said Highline chair, Elizabeth O'Neil, daughter of founder Dr. Murray O'Neil. "We are grateful for, and celebrate, our 1,150 associates, our customers across North America, our suppliers and every member of our community who purchases our mushrooms to serve their family."

Throughout the years, the company has been a pioneer in the industry providing many firsts — including providing Canadians with triple-washed sliced mushrooms, the large-scale production of pesticide-free and organic mushrooms, and the development of unique, valued-added formats, such as blended exotic mushrooms, ready-to-serve mushrooms and Vitamin D mushrooms.

To mark the milestone, the company celebrated with its annual Highline family picnic, including 800 associates and their families from the Leamington and Kingsville farms.

During the picnic the company also recognized the 2011 Highline Family Scholarship Award winners from the Leamington and Kingsville sites.

The awards are presented annually to the children and grandchildren of Highline associates who excel academically, show tremendous leadership, community mindedness and embody Highline's values of excellence, care, respect, effort, integrity, openness and fairness.  To read more go to www.leamingtonpostandshopper.com.