Meet the Producers

Founded by Matt Arthur and Laura Huson in 2017, Boone's Lick Heritage Farm (BLH Farm) has steadily gained recognition in the Columbia area for its focus on mushrooms. Initially growing flowers and greens, their passion for mushrooms led them to expand production in 2022, bringing a variety of fresh, flavorful mushrooms to the Columbia Farmers Market. Matt points out that most big chain grocery stores carry low-quality mushrooms, which reinforces a cycle where corporate buyers don’t prioritize better varieties. As a result, consumers miss out on the rich diversity and flavor that mushrooms can offer—something BLH Farm is passionate about changing.

Mushroom farming is a seven-day-a-week operation at BLH Farm. Matt, Laura, and their small team handle everything from inoculation to harvesting, ensuring quality and consistency. The growing popularity of mushrooms in the culinary world has worked in their favor, with cookbooks and chefs featuring mushrooms as the star of innovative dishes. They enjoy not only sharing their own recipes but also hearing back from customers about how they’ve used BLH Farm mushrooms in their cooking. Often, Matt and Laura will test new ideas at home, then pass along their favorite tips and suggestions to customers at the market.

While BLH Farm's mushrooms are cultivated in a facility near Fulton, their flowers and vegetables are grown on land west of Columbia, which has been in Matt’s family for nearly 50 years. The farm is deeply committed to regenerative agriculture, focusing on practices that build healthy soil, such as using cover crops, cycling spent mushroom substrate into the fields, and avoiding chemical sprays and tilling. They're also passionate advocates of vermicomposting and bokashi composting, methods they use extensively on the farm. This holistic approach ensures that their crops—and the land—remain sustainable for future generations.

BLH Farm’s certified organic mushrooms are available at select Columbia-area grocers, the Columbia Farmers Market, and their website, where you can also find composting starter kits to begin your own sustainability journey.