Our Roots: From Passion to Purpose

Shoots and Spores was born out of a shared love for nature, small-scale farming, and the culinary arts. Founded in 2022 by Filip Velimirovich and David Avant in Milledgeville, Georgia, the business emerged from the duo’s natural passions. Filip’s journey began at the University of Georgia, where a mycology class ignited his interest in mushroom cultivation. Meanwhile, David, with a background in business from Athens Technical College, saw the untapped potential in the gourmet mushroom market.

What started as a casual hobby—growing mushrooms in a shared warehouse—soon evolved into a business endeavor. Utilizing their space and pooling their resources, Filip and David set up a small-scale cultivation facility. Shoots and Spores was born, with a mission to fill the gaps in the mushroom market by offering a diverse selection of premium, gourmet mushrooms that cater to those seeking unique flavors, textures, and nutritional benefits.

Today, we proudly serve the Southeast’s finest restaurants, delivering fresh, sustainable mushrooms straight from our farm to the kitchens of chefs who value quality. With plans to expand into grocery stores and introduce a line of mushroom-based supplements, we’re on a mission to make gourmet mushrooms more accessible while staying committed to sustainability and farm-to-table freshness.

Filip Velimirovich

David Avant

A New Chapter in Sparta: Legacy

In 2024, Shoots and Spores embarked on an exciting new chapter by moving to Sparta, Georgia, where we have taken over the operations of Sparta Imperial Mushrooms.

Our new home is a warehouse built in 1891, originally a cotton depot along the Georgia Railroad. It later became the Sparta Furniture Manufacturing Corporation, a key part of the town’s economy until the early 2000s. After years of abandonment, Robert Currey revitalized the building in the 2010s, transforming it into a cutting-edge mushroom cultivation facility, and thus Sparta Imperial Mushrooms was born.

Today, we are proud to continue the legacy of this facility, honoring the name and reputation built by Sparta Imperial Mushrooms. By taking over the operations in this historic building, Shoots and Spores is able to build on the foundation laid by Robert Currey, David Erickson, and their teams, offering a seamless transition for former Sparta Imperial Mushroom clients. We are dedicated to maintaining the same high-quality, sustainably grown mushrooms that customers have come to trust, while introducing new gourmet varieties and expanding into other products.

As we continue to cultivate our gourmet mushrooms in this storied location, we carry forward the spirit of innovation and excellence that has long been associated with Sparta. Shoots and Spores is committed to supporting local communities, preserving the historical significance of our facility, and contributing to the revitalization of Sparta through sustainable agricultural efforts.

Agri-tours Coming Soon

We will host a guided tour of our facility, a seminar on growing mushrooms at home, pick-your-own mushroom experience, and will provide a free Grow Kit to take home. Look out for Announcements!

Subscribe to the newsletter for updates, deals, and discounts.

 

401 E Hamilton St, Sparta Georgia, 31087

Hours
Monday–Friday
9am–7pm

Saturday 10am-5pm

  • Yes, we deliver at no extra charge to our business clients. Available Monday and Thursday. Give us a shout and we will give you the details.

  • Shoots and Spores is not Certified Organic, but we adhere to organic certification guidelines. Certification is coming soon!

  • Yes, though we have not opened for full Agri-tourism operations we welcome the public to come and see the operation, just click the Contact Us tab and fill out the form.