Gourmet mushroom grower sprouting up on South Carolina coast

A gourmet mushroom producer is relocating to the South Carolina coast.

Gov. Nikki Haley’s office today announced that amFOG Farms LLC is moving its headquarters and building a production facility near Hardeeville in Jasper County, citing the proximity to three major interstate highways. The firmplans to create seven jobs as part of the relocation from Harrisonburg, Va.

“Jasper County provides an excellent location for our operation because of the easy access to I-95, I-16, and I-26 and proximity to our growing markets,” said Chris Sywassink, amFOG’s general manager.

The company will produce gourmet mushrooms, including oyster, shiitake and miatake varieties, in a controlled indoor growing environment using a patent-pending process. It is is expected to raise about 78,000 pounds during the first year of operation in 2013.

Construction is scheduled to start early next year on U.S. Highway 17, south of Hardeeville.

Since January 2011, South Carolina has recruited more than $439 million in capital investment and more than 2,200 jobs in the farm-relatedindustries, Haley’s office said.

“Agribusiness continues to be a wealth creator in South Carolina,” said S.C. Secretary of Commerce Bobby Hitt.