Highline Mushrooms has announced it will shut down its mushroom farm in Wellington, Ontario, leaving close to 300 workers without jobs by the end of the year.
The closure was confirmed in mid-September, reports the Picton Gazette, when employees were informed during an on-site meeting with company representatives.
According to Brian McCarthy, VP of Human Resources, the Wellington farm “no longer meets our long-term safety standards and evolving operational needs.”
Most harvest workers are part of Ontario’s Agricultural stream of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, meaning the impact will extend to migrant employees who rely on these seasonal contracts.
Beyond the job losses, the shutdown will also affect the local farming economy:
Prince Edward County Mayor Steve Ferguson said he was “gutted” by the news, noting that Highline is one of the area’s largest employers. “This announcement will cause hardship for workers and their families,” he said, urging the community to come...
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