Mushroom Pricing Conspirators to Pay Buyers $11.5M

Giorgi Mushroom Co. and Giorgio Foods Inc. will pay $11.5 million to settle antitrust allegations of a class of direct mushroom purchasers after a federal court granted final approval to the deal Dec. 17.

The litigation alleging Giorgi, Giorgio and more than 20 other mushroom growers fixed mushroom prices and reduced competition has been going on since 2006.

The court in 2016 certified a class of people who bought fresh agaricus mushrooms from a conspiracy member. The class includes over 2,000 grocery stores and other food retailers.

The court deferred calculation of attorneys’ fees and costs until claims against all ...