'Scarcity of gourmet mushrooms due to the hot summer' '

The high temperatures of the past summer months are already affecting the availability of certain crops. Regarding gourmet mushrooms, the resonance of the hot summer is clearly noticeable as well, says a Swiss producer and marketer of mushroom exotics.

King oyster mushroom showing a clear growth

The current Swiss market is experiencing a rare mushroom shortage, says the producer. The large volumes are also absent abroad due to weather conditions. Especially in the Netherlands and Germany, the two mushroom varieties king oyster mushroom and Nameko are very scarce. At the same time, production in Eastern Europe -led by Polish producers- is growing at a rapid pace. ''In Switzerland, these producers currently have a very small impact on the price of gourmet mushrooms. Portobello producers are currently under more pressure.''

Shiitake mushrooms

Steady sales increase
The Western European market for exotic mushroom varieties has developed steadily in recent years. There are two growers throughout Switzerland who specialize in the cultivation of gourmet mushrooms, covering their domestic needs. Apart from that, a few tons are exported to countries like Austria, Germany and Italy. ''We see that king oyster mushroom have a large annual sales growth. In general, there is an annual increase in sales of gourmet mushrooms throughout Switzerland, which are currently being covered by the two major producers,'' concludes the producer.