Mushroom Marketing business updates
Kitchen Pride sponsors contest
Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms Inc., Gonzales, Texas, recently held a Jr. Mushroom Masters cooking contest for kids age 6-15.
Families were asked to submit short videos of their kids preparing easy mushroom recipes in an effort to get kids excited about cooking with and eating mushrooms.
"We have a lot of fun with this contest and instead of giving prize money, we give scholarship funds," said Bill St. John, sales director.
In addition, the company is updating its cooling capacity and efficiency.
Monterey Mushrooms offers e-book
Monterey Mushrooms, Watsonville, Calif., launched a summer grilling web page as well as an e-book, "10 ways to Kebab with Mushrooms", to encourage consumers to grill with mushrooms in the summer.
"Studies have shown us that fresh mushrooms are consumed most frequently in the summer. We decided to capitalize on this time by sharing some of our favorite kebab combinations to inspire consumers to fire up their grills," said Lindsey Roberts, marketing coordinator.
The web page includes three step-by-step recipe videos along with the free, downloadable e-book with grilling tips and recipe ideas for fresh mushrooms.
To download the e-book, consumers are asked a few simple questions, which will help Monterey Mushrooms better understand consumer preferences.
Mushroom Council blends with beef
The San Jose, Calif.-based Mushroom Council has partnered with The Beef Checkoff for its second summer grilling promotion, running through Sept. 7.
Labels placed on specially marketed veal packages promote a new veal and portabella mushroom blended burger recipe for this summer, said Kathleen Preis, marketing manager for the council.
"This year's promotion will have an active consumer component through the Mushroom Council's consumer blog posts, e-blasts to the Mushroom Lover's List, and postings to loyal Pinterest board followers, Instagram videos, Facebook, and online YouTube cooking demonstrations," Preis said.
Twenty retail chains are also participating.
The promotion includes a consumer sweepstakes featuring a $500 grand prize and two $50 Williams-Sonoma gift cards.
Oakshire Mushrooms celebrates 30 years
Kennett Square, Pa.-based Oakshire Mushroom Farm, Inc., marked its 30th year in operation last fall.
Brian Kiniry, vice president, said the company will continue to be the exclusive distributor of Dole mushrooms.
Phillips Mushroom expands facility
Kennett Square, Pa.-based Phillips Mushroom Farms has expanded its Warwick, Md., facility to add efficiency and increase production.
"We converted from fuel to much cleaner and more efficient natural gas. The expansion has also created more jobs to help the local economy," said Kevin Donovan, national sales manager.
The expansion has increased the growing surface area by approximately 160,000 square feet, bringing the combined total to 640,000 square feet, according to a news release. Production is expected to increase by over one-third.
Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan recently visited the farm for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
