Latest News From Mushroom Marketing

Blended products have been the top driver behind product innovation and increasing the consumer-facing portfolio for Rochester, N.Y.-based Leep Foods.

Avondale, Pa.-based Basciani Foods has invested in automation, and that move is paying off, said Fred Recchiuti, general manager of the company.

It has been a challenging year for mushroom suppliers, but there have been rewards too.

The Mushroom Council’s collaboration with The Food Network — estimated to make more than 90 million impressions in 2021 — is one of the largest partnerships the council has ever undertaken.

Mushroom production is environmentally friendly by its very nature, but growers are looking for more ways to use less and reduce waste. It's a great way to trim budgets amid this inflationary economic climate.

Shortages in labor, raw materials and freight in the mushroom sector are requiring creative thinking.

While all fresh produce is healthy and can boost the immune system to some extent, mushrooms have some unique qualities that can still be promoted during what is hopefully the tail end of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last year, with pandemic shopping at its fullest, mushrooms were among the top three best-performing foods in the produce aisle in terms of year-over-year sales. And now what?

Check out these business updates in the fresh mushroom industry.

Samantha Snyder is planning for growth this year and increasing capacity to keep up with current mushroom customers.

Mushroom growers are experiencing trends similar to those with fresh produce in general, powered by what consumers buy at retail.

If fresh produce had archetypes, the mushroom would be the hippie.

The Blend, a mushroom promotion success, now goes to Food Network.

With consumers’ concern for health immunity on the rise, and the COVID-19 pandemic’s convergence with peak cold and flu season, the Mushroom Council has launched the Feed Your Immune System campaign.

Phillips Mushrooms recently added Sean Steller to its sales and marketing department.

Ostrom Mushroom Farms hopes to ship mushrooms from its new 39,000-square-foot growing facility in Sunnyside, Wash., in May.

The Blend plays a big part in the marketing of fresh mushrooms, but packaging, nutrition and utility contribute.

Monterey Mushrooms launched a campaign to educate retail dietitians and shoppers about the importance of vitamin D to overall health and sharing tips on how to get more vitamin D by eating mushrooms.

The run-ups to the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are peak sales periods for mushrooms, but there’s a post-holiday run on the product, as well.

Watsonville, Calif.-based Monterey Mushrooms has a new e-cookbook designed to help home cooks freshen up their holiday menus with plant-based recipes for appetizers, sides and beverages.

The mushroom and meat blend trend is taking firm hold at campus eateries.

The James Beard Foundation’s Blended Burger Project has called attention to the practice of combining mushrooms with meat at foodservice, but it seems it could have a positive impact on mushroom sales at retail also.

There will be mushrooms to be had as summer winds down and fall approaches, but supplies could be tight at times and prices may be a bit higher than usual, grower-shippers say.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

Business updates on companies and organizations featured in The Packer's Mushroom Marketing section.

Kitchen Pride Mushroom Farms Inc., Gonzales, Texas, recently held a Jr. Mushroom Masters cooking contest for kids age 6-15.