Washington mushroom farm to close, 65 workers to lose jobs

BELLINGHAM, Wash. (AP) - About 65 people will lose their jobs at a mushroom farm in northwestern Washington.

The Bellingham Herald reports (https://goo.gl/4kkzxO ) that Ostrom Mushroom Farms will phase out its operations on the 60-acre farm and close in June.

Company officials say facilities and equipment built in 1980 at the farm in Everson, Washington are no longer cost-effective to operate.

Ostrom spokesman Fletcher Street says it has also become increasingly difficult to attract people to do the fairly labor-intensive work.

Street says about 55,000 pounds of mushrooms are harvested by hand each week at the business.

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Information from: The Bellingham Herald, https://www.bellinghamherald.com