The American mushroom market is undergoing a transformation, with consumers increasingly choosing a variety of exotic mushrooms alongside traditional favorites like button and brown mushrooms. Shandong Imperial Garden Biotechnology, a large producer of fresh shiitake and shiitake substrate logs from China, has been instrumental in shaping this evolving landscape.
According to Harrison Feng, Director of Sales at Shandong Imperial Garden Biotech: “Historically, button mushrooms have been the staple of the American mushroom market, followed closely by brown mushrooms. However, in recent years, there has been a notable surge in the consumption of exotic mushrooms, including oyster mushrooms and shiitake mushrooms. This shift is driven by a growing awareness of Asian cuisine and its association with healthy dietary choices”.
A recent photo from one of the company's shiitake farms. There are many shiitake pins on the surface of the substrate log. This is an indicator that the log will return a high yield; the less pins, the less mushrooms will grow.
“We see that one particular strong project in the exotic mushroom category is the shiitake mushroom. American consumers are increasingly recognizing the culinary and health benefits of this Asian delicacy. Shiitake mushrooms have gained prominence as a versatile ingredient that not only enhances the flavor of dishes but also contributes to a balanced diet”, Harrison continues: “Interestingly, this has created opportunity for Chinese shiitake substrate suppliers approximately five to six years ago. Growers favor Chinese substrates for their superior quality and higher yield. We are proud to say that today, many prominent mushroom companies procure fresh shiitake mushrooms from growers who rely on Chinese substrates, albeit with rigorous quality testing standards in place”.
Future outlook
Looking ahead, the future appears promising for the fresh exotic mushroom market and dried mushroom products. Anticipated growth in the next 5 to 10 years underscores the continued evolution of consumer preferences. The diversity of America's population, with people from various cultural backgrounds, plays a significant role in this shift. Consumers are increasingly willing to explore and integrate exotic mushrooms into their culinary repertoire, adding a twist to their meals.
Harrison concludes: “Another driver for growth and consumption is the fact that producers and suppliers are investing in new technologies and distribution networks, making it easier for consumers to get to the large diversity of exotic mushrooms available across the United States. We are confident that the overall market is going to keep growing over the next five or 5-10 years. And we are ready to supply the market”.
For more information:
Harrison Feng, Director of Sales
Shandong Imperial Garden Biotech
Tel:+86 15221568065
[email protected]
www.igshiitake.com