Highline Mushrooms Closing Wellington Farm, Nearly 300 Jobs Lost

What’s Happening at Highline Mushrooms?

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.

Why the Plant Is Closing

According to Brian McCarthy, VP of Human Resources, the Wellington farm “no longer meets our long-term safety standards and evolving operational needs.”

• The closure is not related to the quality or quantity of mushroom production
• Instead, the decision stems from the age and condition of the buildings.
• All 252 contract workers and 29 salaried employees will be terminated on December 12, 2025

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.

Local Economic Impact

Beyond the job losses, the shutdown will also affect the local farming economy:

• Area wheat growers supply straw used to insulate mushroom beds, worth over $1 million annually.
• The facility’s closure means this steady revenue stream will disappear.

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 together in support.

Shift to Leamington Facility

At the same time Wellington is shutting down, Highline is preparing to open a new, state-of-the-art organic mushroom farm in Leamington, Ontario.

• Dubbed the “Farm of the Future,” the Leamington site is being developed with Netherlands-based Christiaens Group.
• The facility will use automation and robotics to scale sustainable mushroom production for both Canadian and US markets.
• The company says it is “optimistic about the opportunities our new facility in Leamington will bring.”

Campbell’s Soup opened the mushroom farm in the 1960s before selling it to Highline in 1990. Highline is owned by Fyffes, which itself is owned by Sumitomo Corporation.

What Happens Next

The Wellington shutdown marks the end of an era for the long-standing facility, while underscoring the trend toward automation and consolidation in Canadian agriculture.

Workers are set to lose their jobs just before the holiday season. Local leaders say they will work with community members on strategies to offset the impact on families and the broader economy.

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What Employees Should Know

If you work at Highline and are impacted or terminated without cause by the closure in Wellington, you are entitled to severance pay in Ontario. Non-unionized employees can often claim more than the minimum amounts under provincial legislation.

Next Steps:

• Review your termination letter carefully
• Don’t sign off on a severance offer right away
• Speak with an employment lawyer at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP to confirm what you’re owed

Lost Your Job? Contact Us

If you’ve been affected by closure by Highline Mushrooms, the experienced employment law team at Samfiru Tumarkin LLP can help.

Our employment lawyers for Belleville and Toronto have helped tens of thousands of non-unionized individuals get fair compensation.

📞 Call us today at 1-855-821-5900 or request a consultation online.

Disclaimer: The materials above are provided as general information about the rights of non-unionized employees in Canada. It is not specific to any one company and SHOULD NOT be read as suggesting any improper conduct on the part of any specific employer, or a relationship between Samfiru Tumarkin LLP and a specific employer.