Built by growers. Driven by science.
The Home of Commercial Mushroom Genetics
What began with grower roots has grown into a global business serving commercial farms around the world. Since 1979, Amycel and Spawn Mate have helped shape the commercial mushroom growing with premium spawn, trusted supplements, and a relentless commitment to quality, consistency, and innovation.
Amycel’s Origin Story: Growing a single farm into an industry leader
Amycel was started in 1979 to research and develop mushroom spawn and substrate for our parent company, Monterey Mushrooms, the largest commercial mushroom producer in North America. Just like Monterey Mushrooms and Monterey Nutra, our nutraceutical division, Amycel was created by commercial growers, for commercial growers.
Still grower-led. Always will be.
Amycel is rooted in the growers, production, and the day-to-day realities of commercial operations. That farm-first perspective got us where we are today and still shapes everything we do, from products to support.
- Hands-on commercial growing experience
- One of the most widely distributed spawn companies on the planet
- Still grower-led and operated
Amycel's History
Amycel is spawned
Amfac forms a subsidiary called Amycel and builds a spawn plant in San Juan Bautista, California. Commercial mushroom genetics becomes its own business.
Texas Joins the Family
Amycel and Spawn Mate buy a spawn plant in Madisonville, Texas. More production. More reach.
Spawn Plants Land in Europe
Amycel and Spawn Mate purchase spawn plants in Europe. The first step toward global distribution.
Sales Network Goes Global
Offices open in France, the Netherlands, England, Ireland, Italy, and Mexico. Amycel is now everywhere growers are.
Canada Added
A spawn and supplement plant in Canada joins the network. North America covered.
Delta Launches
An off-white hybrid built for fresh market quality and size mix flexibility.
Heirloom and Brawn Launch
Two patented brown hybrids that become the most widely grown commercial brown mushroom strains available. Both still exclusive to Amycel.
Triple X and PG Natural Launch
Triple X joins the white strain lineup. PG Natural makes Spawn Mate the largest organic supplement company in its category at launch.
Phoenixx Launches
A premium off-white hybrid. Large, heavy-bodied mushrooms. Competitive yields.
Heirloom and Brawn Patented in the U.S.
The genetics behind North America's most widely grown brown mushrooms are now protected.
International Patents Secure
Heirloom and Brawn extended to Australia, Mexico, and New Zealand.
Amycel Trademark Registered
The Amycel name is formally protected.
Europe and Canada Patents Secured
Heirloom and Brawn protected on every major growing continent.
NIR Compost Technology Introduced
Near-infrared technology to analyze compost quality for customers. Better data for better crops.
Vendôme Expands
The French production facility grows. European operations get stronger.
Dedicated Distribution Warehouse
Amycel buys a dedicated warehouse. Better logistics for growers.
Exxcalibur Launches
The body of Phoenixx. The speed of Triple X. Pick rates 20 to 25% faster. Built for operations where labor is tight.
Kodiak Launches
Taller mushrooms, denser stems, fewer opens, up to 50% less water for the same yield. Built for robotic harvesting.
Amycel Rebrands
A new global identity. US and EU united under one brand for the first time.
Support for Your Growing Challenges
Whether you're selecting a new strain, scaling an existing facility, or troubleshooting your current operation, our team has been doing this since 1979.
THe spawn behind North American Commercial Mushrooms
Heirloom and Brawn are the most widely grown brown mushroom strains available. Both patented. Both Amycel exclusives.
One of the Largest Mushroom R&D programs Anywhere
32 dedicated test rooms. A team of scientists working on the next generation of commercial genetics.
Hands-On support from growers
When you need help, our team of former commercial growers are on the farm, on the phone and in the soil with you.
Production and support on three continents
Facilities in California, Texas, and Vendôme, France. Sales and distribution across 37 countries on five continents for supply and support wherever you grow: California, Texas, Madisonville Indiana (supplements), Vendôme France. Distribution: North America, South America, Australia, EU.