Lending Successful

Gourmet Mushroom Facility Expansion

by Canyon Creek Mushrooms
Gourmet Mushroom Facility Expansion

Canyon Creek Mushrooms is expanding their mushroom production in Palm Desert, CA to meet the blooming demand for their delicious and nutritious mushrooms.

Project Summary
  • Location: Palm Desert, CA
  • Products: Mushrooms
  • Loan Term: 60 months
  • Interest Rate: 8.00% APR
  • Repayments Begin: 3 months after disbursement
$100,000
100% of $100,000

Funded on 10/04/2021

Overview

Canyon Creek Mushrooms was founded in 2019 in California’s Coachella Valley by longtime mushroom enthusiasts Jim Shaffer and his partner Stacy Andrews. Their farm specializes in the cultivation of gourmet mushrooms, including Oyster mushrooms, Lions Mane, Chestnut, Shiitake, Maitake, King Trumpet, and more⏤which they harvest daily and sell to local restaurants and directly to customers at the region’s many farmers markets. 

Within a year’s time their farm reached maximum production capacity, and in spring 2021 they signed a lease for a larger facility in Palm Desert to increase production from 360 lbs of mushrooms per week to up to 1500 lbs per week. As one of the few mushroom farmers in their regional desert climate, this expansion will allow Canyon Creek to meet the growing demand for their nutrient-dense, flavor-packed mushrooms. 


Use of Funds

Canyon Creek will use a loan from Steward to expand production through purchasing the needed equipment, infrastructure, and inventory to build out their new facility. They have secured a building that allows for a 400% increase in production capacity, enabling them to finally meet the surging customer demand for their delectable mushrooms. They will also use funds to build out a retail space at their new property. 


Regenerative & Sustainable Practices

Most mushrooms found at the grocery store are imported from other countries, with the majority coming from Canada. Canyon Creek produces mushrooms that are consumed locally and regionally, doing their part to help feed and sustain the local food system. They grow mushrooms indoors using farming byproducts, and engage in the following sustainable practices:

  • Reusing two waste byproducts, soy hulls and sawdust, as the growing medium for producing their gourmet mushrooms.

  • Once the substrate blocks have fed 3-5 fruiting cycles, Canyon Creek passes them off as compost for other local farms in the area. Leftover mycelium is a nutrient-dense addition to enhance soil fertility for growing crops.

  • Plans are in the works to partner with a local organization to build out a community composting facility that will increase accessibility to a nutrient-dense soil enhancer.
  • October 08, 2021

    Thank You, Lenders!

    On behalf of myself, Stacy and our newly hired team, thank you for choosing to participate in our loan! We are truly humbled by how quickly we were able to meet our goal. Because of your help and generosity, we can take our dream of growing gourmet mushrooms to the next level.

    We will be using the funds to construct the different climate chambers in our new 4500 square foot facility, as well as purchase the equipment and inventory needed to grow mushrooms on such a large scale. With our increased capacity we will finally be able to provide gourmet mushrooms to all the many restaurants, farmers markets and residents we were unable to serve from our original farm.

    In a few short weeks we will begin producing 1000s of pounds of our gorgeous, nutritious, delicious mushrooms per month, and are excited to have you join us on our journey!

    Best,

    Jim Shaffer & the Canyon Creek team

Building Infrastructure--$52,000: This includes all construction costs for the buildout of the fruiting and incubation chambers as well as a lab. 

Production Equipment--$34,000: This includes equipment for increased production and efficiency, such as grow tents, incubation shelves, a dump trailer, a fork lift, and more. 

Retail Space--$7,000: This includes refrigerated display cases for a retail shop.

Inventory--$7,000: This includes bulk sourcing of substrate, substrate bags, and produce boxes.

Total Budget: $100,000

This loan will be made to Canyon Creek Mushrooms, a California limited liability company, which grows and sells gourmet mushrooms for their local community.

This loan will fund the expansion of Canyon Creek Mushrooms as they transition into a new facility, allowing them to meet the local demand for their mushrooms.

The total loan amount is $100,000  which will assist Canyon Creek Mushrooms grow and expand their business.

This loan is set at a 8% interest rate, with a 60 month term, and fully amortized monthly payments beginning in 3 months after funds are disbursed.


Lender Participation Agreement Download
Borrower Loan Agreement Download

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