The BDC expects a record harvest of 70,000 metric tons of button (also know as common) mushrooms this year. For this year, 2016, the Federation of German Edible Mushroom Cultivars (Deutscher Champignon-und Kulturpilzanbauer, BDC) counts on a record yield of button mushrooms. The collective expected yield could reach 70,000 metric tons. Of the expected yield, 63,000 metric tons will be fresh produce and 7,000 metric tons will be used in processed food.
According to the BDC chairman, Michael Schattenberg, this would mean an increase of the volume by around 3,000 metric tons compared to 2015, as he stated in his overview at the 68th Annual General Meeting in Würzburg. “This leads to a share self-sufficiency of over 50% for fresh mushrooms. German mushrooms are very popular with the consumers, however, the price pressure and the supply constraints come from the supermarkets," emphasized Schattenberg.
Unfortunately, according to the AMI, mushrooms are one of the few products in the fruit and vegetable range with slightly declining prices and, at the same time, production costs are rising. This divide should not increase further, states the chairman. Despite increasingly difficult conditions, German mushroom cultivators have been able to hold their own in the market. The cumbersome bureaucracy, the effect of the fertilizer regulations, and the high prices for electricity, due to the EEG surcharge, created a competitive disadvantage in Europe.
The BDC consistently continued its very successful public relations work. The Grüne Medienhaus (Green Media House GMH) and mushroom ambassador, Peter Marseille, have done excellent work in consumer education. Furthermore BDC organized a Champignons Action in schools and by the end of the year over 2600 mushroom boxes are expected to have reached classes, reaching more than 60,000 pupils all over Germany.
Positive BDC articles were widely distributed by press agencies, so that 14 million editions made it across Germany. The BDC Ambassador, Peter Marseille, gave interviews on TV, in culinary magazines and he is active at exhibitions and fairs. He will of course be present at the mushroom exhibition at the IGA, 2017, in Berlin.
For more information:
Bund Deutscher Champignon- und Kulturpilzanbauer (BDC) e.V.
Claire-Waldoff-Straße 7
10117 Berlin
Phone: 030-20 00 65-28
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.der-champignon.de und www.bdc-pilze.de
