The Farm
Swift Current Farms epitomizes Montana's agricultural spirit as a locally rooted, family-owned enterprise dedicated to cultivating, harvesting, and delivering nutrient-rich produce to families and restaurants. Our commitment to conservation and sustainability underscores every facet of our operation, as we strive to minimize our environmental impact and preserve precious natural resources. As stewards of the land, we recognize the importance of responsible farming practices in fostering a thriving community.
Embracing cutting-edge technology is integral to our approach, enabling us to optimize production methods and redefine the traditional notion of farming. By leveraging innovative tools and techniques, we not only enhance the quality and yield of our crops but also uphold our promise to deliver superior produce to our valued supporters. At Swift Current Farms, we are not just farmers; we are passionate about local sustainable agriculture, dedicated to nourishing bodies of our community and the planet.
Substrate Production
We produce high-quality, nutrient-rich substrates specifically designed for optimal mushroom cultivation. Using carefully selected raw materials and a controlled production process, our substrates provide the ideal environment for healthy mycelium growth and high-yield mushroom production.
Our Lab
We produce premium grain spawn and develop our own liquid cultures to ensure vigorous, healthy mycelium growth. In our in-house laboratory, we carefully expand and maintain pure, contaminant-free strains. This is also where we perform all substrate inoculations under sterile conditions, ensuring clean and successful colonization. Our controlled and precise process creates optimal conditions for robust mycelium development and consistently high-yield mushroom production
Innoculation
After inoculation, our substrate blocks undergo a carefully monitored colonization phase in controlled environments. We maintain optimal temperature, humidity, and sterile conditions to support rapid and healthy mycelium growth. This ensures full colonization of the substrate, laying the foundation for vigorous fruiting
Fruiting Chambers
Our farm features two dedicated fruiting chambers where fully colonized blocks are moved to initiate mushroom production. Each chamber is carefully climate-controlled, maintaining ideal humidity, temperature, and airflow to promote healthy pinning and consistent fruit body development. This ensures a steady supply of fresh, high-quality mushrooms ready for harvest.
Bitterroot Grown
We are proudly situated in Stevensville, Montana, nestled in the heart of this picturesque small town. Our serene surroundings foster strong bonds with our local community supporters. Conveniently positioned, our location enables us to effectively cater to both Missoula and Ravalli County. As our family farm flourishes, so too will the breadth of counties we extend our services to.
Community Focused
We hold a deep appreciation for our community, evident in our strong bond with our supporters. Rather than viewing those who purchase our produce as mere customers or buyers, we see them as integral supporters, and wholesalers as valued partners. Our unwavering commitment to the well-being of our community is paramount. This is why we are actively pursuing USDA certification for organic products and refining our expertise in dual extraction techniques to diversify our product offerings.
Eco-Stewardship
Undoubtedly, the mushroom industry's reliance on single-use plastic is considerable, particularly evident in the utilization of plastic bags for storing mushroom fruiting substrate in large-scale indoor production. However, there exist viable strategies to mitigate this plastic usage. Embracing unconventional or outdoor methods presents promising alternatives. Transitioning from indoor bag growing to employing reusable containers or inoculating logs and outdoor garden beds can significantly reduce plastic consumption. At our family farm, we are committed to deepening our comprehension of plastic usage within our operations and exploring avenues for enhancing plastic decomposition. Researching alternative practices remains a priority as we strive for sustainability and environmental responsibility.
The Farmers
Owner Sarah Sue Duffy is the driving force behind the day-to-day operations of the farm. Her dedication to community and access to nutritious food is deeply intertwined with her upbringing on her grandfather's conventional farm in Iowa, where she developed a profound appreciation for nature and agricultural practices. William Parson, her grandfather, played a central role in shaping her values, and in his honor, she has dedicated this farm to him, committing herself to preserving and advancing his legacy.
Michael Lloyd is the cornerstone of our family business's prosperity, assuming the pivotal role of head of production. Drawing upon his extensive background in marketing and photography, Michael has proven instrumental in spearheading several enterprises' launch and enduring success. His wealth of experience and diverse skill set are invaluable assets, enriching our operations and providing strategic insight into various facets of our business. Michael's unwavering dedication and innovative approach consistently propel our endeavors forward, driving growth and sustainability within our organization.
Where it all started
Sarah Sue's upbringing in Iowa instilled in her a deep appreciation for nature's bounty, particularly the art of foraging for morel mushrooms amidst the forests surrounding her grandfather's farm. This childhood passion for foraging, coupled with her keen interest in nutrition and the fascinating realm of mushrooms, inspired her to establish Swift Current Farms. Sarah Sue embarked on this journey from the humble confines of her basement in Missoula, where she honed her lab skills and acquired foundational knowledge in the commercial cultivation of mushrooms.
The Barn
Upon relocating to Stevensville, we invested in a 12'x20' shed crafted by a. local company, Bitterroot Shedz. Affectionately dubbed the "barn", served as the nucleus of our operations in the beginning. Within its confines, we organized our lab, incubation, and fruiting chambers, alongside a compact processing area. Despite its modest dimensions, our farm thrived within these walls, yielding an impressive bounty of mushrooms. Yet, our rapid growth rendered the barn inadequate in under six months.
US HWY 93
We stumbled upon our current facility almost serendipitously, and the opportunity presented was simply too compelling to pass up. Our move-in took place in July 2023, affording us the chance to customize the space to precisely fit our requirements. Within our facility, we've established a spacious laboratory, an incubation area, and an impressive "warehouse" section, equipped with six 8x8 Gorilla Grow Tents. These tents serve as the perfect environment for cultivating our mushrooms. Through meticulous control of humidity, temperature, and oxygen levels, facilitated by these tents, we achieve exceptional efficiency within a relatively compact space.
Summer of 2024
We had made some decisions for our farm that, in hindsight, weren’t the best for where we wanted to go. We realized things needed to change—fast. We made a major push to cut overhead and streamline operations in a big way. One of the biggest shifts came when we decided the tents just weren’t working anymore for the scale we were reaching. So, we tore everything out and replaced the tents with a chamber setup. It was a huge move, but it laid the groundwork for the next chapter of our farm.
Late 2024
The chamber was exactly what we needed. Around the same time, we made another big decision: we shut down Southside and condensed everything into just one side of the farm. Mike built an additional chamber, and now, with two chambers running and a very bootstrapped sterilizer, we’re finally starting to feel a real sense of peace. The day-to-day flow is slowly becoming routine, and things are beginning to settle in a way that feels sustainable.
2025 and Beyond
Looking ahead into 2025 and beyond, we’re shifting our focus toward thoughtful growth and developing new products that truly reflect who we are as a farm. With the major changes behind us—streamlining operations, consolidating space, and building out the chambers—we’ve created a solid foundation to grow from. Now, we’re putting energy into refining our processes, dialing in quality, and exploring new offerings that we’re excited to share. Whether it’s expanding our varieties, introducing new value-added products, or collaborating with other growers and makers, we’re committed to pushing forward in a way that’s sustainable and true to our vision. The hard lessons from the past few years have shaped a clearer path, and we’re ready for what’s next.
