21/03/2025
It’s Time to Say Goodbye!!
After much reflection, I’ve made the difficult decision to close Hearty Growers and stop trading at the end of this month.
It hasn’t been an easy choice, but personal challenges, financial strains, and the realities of running a small business have brought me to a place where slowing down feels like the right path.
Looking back, this journey has been nothing short of wild. It started in 2020, mid-pandemic, with Judy and me experimenting at home, learning the art of mushroom cultivation.
From there, we moved into PortView Trade Centre, and later, Banana Block — where Hearty Growers became a thriving little hub, surrounded by an incredible community of mushroom lovers.
We poured everything into this. We grew some of the freshest gourmet mushrooms and supplied them to both classy and funky restaurants and cafés in Belfast. Push bike and trailer delivered.
Later on I got creative—turning mushrooms into teas, jerky, seasonings and collaborative offerings like shroom pies, vinegar, shiitake truffles, and each one born from partnering up with passionate local producers, chefs, bakers, and artists. Every product had a story, every partnership was built on genuine love for food and fungi.
Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with some truly amazing people—fellow mushroom growers across Ireland and the UK, nutritionists, chefs, researchers, brewers, roasters, artists from various disciplines and backgrounds, entrepreneurs, and more. The support from our Northern Irish markets, news outlets, and business networks has been unreal.
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