For over a year now, gourmet mushrooms have been growing and thriving in the former pigsty of the Brinker family in Asendorf. Despite the challenges inevitably associated with a new business venture, owner Lutz Brinker and his wife Alexandra reflect contentedly on their first full business year.
Alexandra and Lutz Brinker took the leap into gourmet mushroom cultivation.
"Marketing is indeed the most difficult part, but we are very satisfied with the yields and quality. Especially with the King Oyster mushrooms, we have production well under control. But we are only at the beginning, as we are talking about a total production volume of around 60-70 kg per week," Brinker explains.
The gourmet mushrooms are marketed exclusively in the immediate vicinity, Brinker continues. "In addition to the self-service stand at the farm, we supply regional gastronomy and resellers, such as farm shops and retail markets. I could imagine expanding the supply to local food retailers in the future."
A look into the cultivation cell of the Lower Saxony farm. Brinker sources the necessary substrate for his gourmet mushroom cultivation from Dutch manufacturer CNC. Clockwise: King Oyster, Oyster, Gold Cap, and Shiitake.
In total, the farmer cultivates six varieties of gourmet mushrooms in a confined space, namely King Oyster, Lemon Oyster, Oyster, Shiitake, Gold Cap, and Lion's Mane. Brinker: "In terms of quantity, the King Oyster is our most important mushroom variety. Personally, I see the greatest marketing potential here: What helps is that the variety has already somewhat established itself. This means that you don't have to put as much work into it as with the other varieties, which are often not known at all. In the extent to which you can market the King Oyster, I believe it will be difficult with the other varieties."
Images: Brinker's Mushroom Plank
For more information:
Lutz Brinker
Brinker's Mushroom Plank Owner Lutz Brinker
Hoyaer Straße 15
OT Essener Heide
27330 Asendorf
Phone: 0151-23152552
Email: info@brinkers-pilzdiele.de
www.brinkers-pilzdiele.de