Growing gourmet and medicinal mushrooms has become even more popular in recent years, yet they have been used for both their medicinal and culinary value for thousands of years, especially in Asian cultures. The shiitake mushrooms are the third most widely cultivated mushrooms in the world behind the oyster and button mushrooms, with the American market increasing the fastest. These dark brown, umbrella shaped mushrooms are a very popular protein source in Japan, as well as being a major staple in China’s diet.
The shiitake mushroom has been grown commercially in the US for over 25 years and is becoming more and more popular in the gourmet markets. They have been used in vegetarian dishes as a meat substitute because of their meaty texture and full bodied flavor. These organic mushrooms wholesale for about $5.00 to $9.00 a pound and those who grow them will normally receive about $5.00 to $7.00 for well formed and fresh mushrooms.
For those who are interested in growing these organic shiitake mushrooms on a large scale, there is normally a large initial investment involved. The shiitake mushroom is a good choice because this variety can be grown very well in an artificial environment; however, if you run a large operation you will generally need compressed grain or sawdust logs, as well as large climate controlled locations in which to do so, thus a larger initial investment. However, on a smaller scale these all natural mushrooms are easier to grow as it can be done on white oaks logs in a shaded forest setting.
A shady location is needed to stack and store the logs and the growing area needs enough area to be able to move the logs, load the trucks and perform any other operations that are necessary to the production of the organic mushrooms. At least 60% shade is needed, which is why hardwood and pine tree forests are good, as the hardwoods provide shade during the hot months and the pines provide continuous shade.
Of course, just as with everything else there are risk factors involved in the production and cultivation of shiitake mushrooms, such as pest damages, marketing challenges and bad weather. You need to have plenty of water or moisture during the growing months of summer, as it is vital for a good quality product. Any dry extended periods will negatively impact the growing of these mushrooms and will yield a lower quality crop, which means lower prices when they are sold.
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