Supplies of specialty mushrooms are very good right now. Michael Stephan, VP of sales & business development for Monterey Mushrooms notes that the total specialty mushroom volume is up 9.7 percent from last year at this time and the value of those mushrooms is up 32 percent versus a year ago.
“USDA’s AMS segments specialty mushrooms into three groups--Shiitake, Oyster and “Other”,” he says. “Shiitake production is up 8 percent, Oysters are down and Other is up 50 percent.” In fact, the Other segment has consistently grown and is now larger as a single segment than the Oysters category or Shiitake category for example.
Like other commercially grown mushrooms, specialty mushrooms are grown year-round. “Unlike the Agaricus mushrooms (common white mushrooms) where there is a high concentration of growers in Pennsylvania--60 percent of U.S. total), specialty mushroom growers are less concentrated and can be found in most states,” says Stephan.
Micro mushroom farms
That increased production is also meeting good, growing demand that’s driven by a few factors, including culinary trends but also the health benefits associated with mushroom consumption such as cognitive brain health. “Specialty “Other” mushrooms can be and are being grown locally on a small scale. This has resulted in Micro Farms similar to what you see with Micro Breweries,” adds Stephan.
Meanwhile, on pricing, prices for Shiitake and Oyster Mushrooms are relatively unchanged from the prior year while Other specialty mushrooms (mostly Maitake, Beech, Trumpets, Lion’s Mane) are up in price by 16 percent, according to the USDA’s NASS report.
