MARKET FOR MUSHROOMS

MARKET FOR MUSHROOMS

The world market for the mushroom industry was valued at over US $40 billion in 2001. The

industry consists of, edible mushrooms (US $30 billion), medicinal products (US $9-10 billion)

and wild mushrooms (US $4-5 billion). The majority of this production occurs in China who

produced 70.6% of the total world production in 2002. While the white button mushroom

remains the highest overall world production, its relative contribution is decreasing due to a

dramatic increase in other species.

The UK mushroom market is worth £320 million with roughly 150 growers. Northern Ireland is

one of the main mushroom growing regions, supplying retailers throughout the UK. In the

Republic of Ireland mushroom production (Agaricus bisporus) has been a major success story

in diversification, providing income and employment for small farms. Mushrooms are the single

most important food crop in Ireland with a total farmgate value of €124 million. 70% of Ireland’s

mushrooms are exported, generating €95 million in export income. However, recent

competition from the Dutch and Polish industries has lead the Irish Department of Agriculture

and Food to create the Mushroom Taskforce to address the industry’s limitations.

 

The Irish industry is based on a satellite grower system, whereby growers are linked into

central compost companies which supply spawned compost. These companies then collect,

grade and market the finished product. The industry is made up mainly of family managed

units consisting of three to five polythene tunnels. Over 70% of growers have contracts with

central marketing groups.

Mushrooms are easily damaged and require careful hand picking, storing and good packaging

and presentation. Mushrooms can be sold fresh or dried. Considerable value can be added to

the primary product through the extraction of the mushroom’s complex sugars, used for potent

and unique health enhancing medicinal products. Processed products can also add extra

value to the product in the form of sauces and teas etc.

The functional and organic food markets are developing rapidly and could allow mushroom

sales to increase; mushrooms are an excellent functional food. Mushrooms can be marketed

towards health food stores, grocery stores, supermarkets, the catering industry and

restaurants. They can be sold at farmers markets, to chefs and directly through the internet.

Table 1 lists some of the varieties of mushrooms which might find niche markets in the UK.