Vendor Spotlight Sandia Farms
Johnny Sandia can vividly remember the first time he learned about a mushroom farm. It was in 2006 during an episode of the show "Dirty Jobs" starring Mike Rowe, and he’s been fascinated with fungi and mycelium ever since.
“Little did I know that was going to be the seed that got planted,” he says of that initial introduction. “In all my jobs after college the thought of growing mushrooms always stayed stuck in the back of my mind.”
Fast forward a decade-plus later, and Johnny, along with his wife, Megan, are living out their fungi dreams after quitting their full-time jobs for farming. Located in Prince George, the duo founded Sandia Farms Mushroom Company in 2019. Dedicated to mostly mycelium, the couple grow everything from mesmerizing pink and pearl oyster mushroom varieties to fuzzy Lion’s Mane, in addition to vegetables such as arugula and chiles.
Home to hoop houses and incubation chambers where the mushrooms will reach their full potential, Johnny says no matter what time of day, there’s a high possibility the sounds of house and techno music can be heard on their multi-acre farm.
“We are always blasting techno music,” he says. “I like to think the mushrooms like it too.”
Joining Cavalier Produce three years ago, Johnny says the relationship has been beneficial, and that not only do him and his wife appreciate the company’s tenured years in the industry, but also their ability to help Sandia’s mushrooms reach a wider audience.
“Cavalier understands the difficulties that most farmers are battling with mother nature and the unknown,” says Johnny, who was previously an electrical engineer. “Cavalier carries Sandia Farms mushrooms every week, all year. Their deliveries have such a broad reach. It's awesome to get tagged on Instagram and see that our mushrooms have reached destinations statewide in a matter of hours.”
Sourcing primarily Sandia’s prized pearl oyster mushrooms, Cavalier also carries their shiitakes, pink oyster, king oyster and maitake varieties. And as for starting a farm, getting their hands dirty, supplying local restaurants with mushrooms and living out their fungi fantasy, Johnny says they wouldn't change a thing.
“One of the scariest things was my wife and I quitting our careers to do this full time,” he says. “The leap was necessary to satisfy the mushroom growing dream. I advise anyone else who has a dream to take a leap of faith and start living a life that they can be in control of and enjoy. Do what makes you happy and the rest will fall in place.”
