Latest News From Mushrooms

While production of mushrooms in the U.S. was slightly down in 2017-18, sales hit an all-time high, at $1.23 billion, buoyed by per-pound increases for fresh and processed, agaricus and specialty mushrooms.

With more than 350 entries from restaurants, and 250,000 votes from consumers, the 4th Annual Blended Burger Project competition was tough this year.

While overall production of mushrooms in the U.S. was slightly down in the 2017-18 season, sales hit an all-time high for the crop, at $1.23 billion, buoyed by per-pound increases across the board.

While overall production of mushrooms in the U.S. was slightly down in the 2017-18 season, sales hit an all-time high for the crop, at $1.23 billion, buoyed by per-pound increases across the board.

Catch up on the latest updates from companies and associations involved in the fresh mushroom sector.

The Blend — mixing chopped mushrooms and ground meat — has established a foothold in foodservice outlets. Now, marketers say, it is helping make their jobs easier in retail produce departments.

With the U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaiming September as National Mushroom Month, the Mushroom Council is promoting bowls as a meal option from breakfast to dinner.

Mushroom marketers expect to have plenty of product on hand for the rest of the summer and into the fall season — and, perhaps, beyond.

With the U.S. Department of Agriculture proclaiming September as National Mushroom Month, the Mushroom Council is promoting bowls as a meal option from breakfast to dinner.

Oakshire Mushroom Farm Inc., Kennett Square, Pa., has hired Mark Kreiner as sales manager.

A meat-and-mushroom burger developed by Blue Apron and the James Beard Foundation is available to order for a limited time.

Giorgio Foods wants food bloggers to mix some mushrooms up in the kitchen this season with its Blendabella Summer Blogger Recipe Challenge.

British mushroom grower G’s Fresh Mushrooms received the Fresh Produce Consortium’s Fresh Award for CSR Excellence for its introduction of the molded pulp punnet for mushrooms.

Another mushroom grower-shipper is running a summer grilling-themed sweepstakes, with Monterey Mushrooms launching a two-month promotion.

If the feedback at the Summer Fancy Foods Show is any indication, Giorgio Foods has hit on a winning idea with Savory Wild Portabella Jerky.

To-Jo Mushrooms is launching its two-week Summer Grilling Sweepstakes, in partnership with Weber Grills, June 30.

For a fourth year, the Redwood Shores, Calif.-based Mushroom Council and the Centennial, Colo.-based Beef Checkoff are partnering for a summerlong veal grilling promotion at retail.

Monterey Mushrooms has redesigned the labels for all of its fresh mushrooms.

Ostrom Mushroom Farms LLC has secured $45 million in financing to build a composting and production facility in Sunnyside, Wash.

Backed by a $466,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture grant, agricultural scientists at the University of Florida are educating consumers on genetically modified foods so they can make informed decision at grocery stores.

To-Jo Mushrooms, Avondale, Pa., kicked off its #GrowingFutures educational program April 11 at the Assumption BVM School in Avondale.

The James Beard Foundation has tweaked its Blended Burger Project competition format as it gears up for the fourth annual showdown this summer.

National editor Tom Karst and staff writer Ashley Nickle review the big stories of the week, including Mexican produce labeled as Canadian and high demand for mushrooms and limes.

The American Mushroom Institute reports that producers are scrambling to keep up with growing demand for their product.

Count me in for The Blend.

Highline Mushrooms, Leamington, Ontario, has purchased Western Canada grower-shipper Prairie Mushrooms.

To promote its new finely diced mushroom product, Monterey Mushrooms is partnering with a social media influencer who’s a pediatric dietitian and food blogger.

Designer Amelia Freidline and staff writer Ashley Nickle test out the new Signature Slinger from Sonic, which developed with the Mushroom Council a burger patty that is about 75% meat and 25% mushrooms.

After successful market testing, Sonic Drive-In’s blended mushroom burger, dubbed the Signature Slinger, will be available at the company’s 3,500 U.S. locations for seven weeks.

A new value-added product will soon be available from Kennett Square, Pa.-based Gourmet’s Finest Mushroom Co.

Monterey Mushrooms Inc., Watsonville, Calif., plans to showcase its Let’s Blend diced mushroom line at the Southeast Produce Council’s Southern Exposure event, March 1-3 in Tampa, Fla.

Catch the latest news from companies and industry groups featured in The Packer's Mushroom Marketing profile.

Mushroom marketers are optimistic about their ability to steadily increase mushroom sales at retail and foodservice.

The Mushroom Council has launched a new consumer website — MushroomCouncil.com, replacing MushroomInfo.com.

North American consumers are increasingly interested in specialty varieties of mushrooms, with positive experiences at foodservice often leading to retail sales.

A “normal” Thanksgiving-Christmas sales period now behind them, U.S. mushroom marketers say supplies look good for the winter.

The Mushroom Council wants to know more about why cooks choose to blend mushrooms with meat.

Kennett Square, Pa.-based South Mill Mushrooms and Canadian producer Champ’s Mushrooms have joined forces.

The five top chefs in the 2017 Blended Burger Project — featuring burgers made from a mushroom/meat blend — will cook and serve their recipes Jan. 23 during the Blended Burger Bun’anza at the James Beard House.

The organic produce category continues to show significant growth.

Mushroom lovers across the country received extra Christmas gifts through a Monterey Mushrooms contest.

Riding on consumer interest in convenience-driven produce packs and meal kits, Highline Mushrooms won the Best New Product award for its sliced organic mushroom medleys at the New York Produce Show last week.

The U.S. Department has named three new members to the nine-member Mushroom Council.

Brian Threlfall, executive vice president of sales and marketing for Giorgio Fresh Co., plans to retire at the end of the year.

To-Jo Mushrooms Inc.’s September and October Save the Ta-Ta’s campaign raised $1,650 for The Pennsylvania Breast Cancer Coalition.

Capitalizing on the trend of mixing chopped mushrooms with ground meat — known as “blending” — Monterey Mushrooms plans to introduce a new product line called Let’s Blend at the PMA's Fresh Summit.

Employees at Watsonville, Calif.-based Monterey Mushrooms’ growing operations in the U.S. and Mexico raised more than $26,000 for hurricane relief efforts in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.

Catch up on businesses involved in growing, shipping and marketing fresh mushrooms.

Monterey Mushrooms has partnered with The Produce Mom, the first mushroom grower to do so.

Restaurants nationwide can register to take part in JBF's summer competition to blend mushrooms with meat for burgers.