AN ECONOMIC ASSESSMENT OF MUSHROOMSExecutive SummaryThe white button mushroom (agaricus bisporus) accounts for 99percent of all the mushrooms grown in the U.S. Specialtyvarieties, such as the shiitake and the oyster mushroom, make upthe remainder. Production of specialty mushrooms, however, hasbeen increasing. Their sales almost doubled between 1991/92 and1993/94.Pennsylvania and California dominate U.S. mushroom production.Pennsylvania's production accounted for 47 percent of U.S. outputin 1993/94, and California accounted for 17 percent. Mushroomsare produced indoors on stationary beds and in portable trays.With the tray system, mushrooms are moved from room to room witheach succeeding stage of production.There were 355 mushroom growers in the United States in 1993/94,down from 468 in 1986/87. The decline in the number of growersis largely attributable to farm consolidation during the late1980's. During this time, a number of farms expanded to gaingreater production efficiency, while some operations,particularly the smaller ones, quit producing mushrooms.The majority of mushroom farms are family operations. Many ofPennsylvania's farms have been in business three to fourgenerations, with second-generation farms considered newoperations.Mushroom production, however, is dominated by several largefirms, including Campbell's Soup Company, which owns eightmushroom farms throughout the U.S., and Monterey Farms, whichowns five farms in California, Texas, and Tennessee. There are 5or 6 mid-sized farms producing 5 million to 20 million poundsannually, and about 100 farms each producing 1 million to 5million pounds annually. U.S. specialty mushroom production isdominated by six farms.Mushroom production involves an integrated series of operations,and is dependent on controlled environments. The unsuccessfulcompletion of any one phase can lead to yield losses or cropfailure. Traditionally, mushrooms were grown on beds in mushroomhouses. The houses are called "doubles" because they were builtin pairs under one roof. Newer methods involve mushroomproduction in trays that can be moved from room to room fordifferent phases of the production cycle.Mushroom houses are well-insulated, vapor-proof buildings withtemperature, humidity, and air exchange controls. Houses foragaricus mushrooms use minimal light, since this variety does notneed light to fruit. Shiitake and oyster mushrooms, however, aregrown in lighted houses, since light is necessary for theirproduction. Mushroom production is nearly independent of outsideweather, since modern houses and equipment provide favorableconditions for all phases of the growing cycle.Mushroom production consists of six principal steps: composting-
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