Range of Swiss cultivated organic mushrooms extended
Swiss mushroom production is therefore following a clear consumer trend. The average weekly sales of organic mushrooms in the period under review has increased noticeably since 2015, reaching a peak of 11.3 tonnes in November 2017.
Demand for organic has increased
From January to November 2017, 439 tonnes of organic mushrooms were purchased, almost twice as much as two years earlier (Jan-Nov 2015: 230 tonnes). In contrast, conventionally produced mushrooms did not show a consistent trend and their sales volumes fluctuated seasonally. Thus, the average share of organic products within total mushroom sales increased from 4.6% (2015) to 6.7% (2016), finally reaching 9.1% (Jan-Nov 2017).
Organic price ranges are widening
An analysis of the prices of white mushrooms in the traditional retail trade shows that the price difference between organically and conventionally produced mushrooms averaged 7.4% between January 2015 and November 2017. This is little compared to the fruit and vegetables sector, which is due to the fact that the organic mushrooms mostly consisted of cheaper, foreign imports. The price for organic mushrooms has also fallen by mid-2017. The low prices of December 2016, which can be attributed to high levels of activity in imported organic goods, is particularly striking.
The picture changes with the arrival of the new Swiss organic mushrooms (white and brown). They get higher prices in the retail trade than their foreign counterparts. This is also reflected in the price trend: the average price for organic mushrooms was 15.65 CHF (13.57 euros) per kg at the beginning of January, almost 24% higher than the price for conventionally produced mushrooms. Thus, the new range has significant effects on the market for organic mushrooms.
Source: blw