“This is the tightest supply we have seen this early in the season,” says Bill Litvin of Temple, Pa.-based Giorgio Fresh Co. “The reasons include the hurricane damage to three U.S. mushroom growing operations, labor shortages and increased demand.”
While supply comes from around the country, Litvin says that Pennsylvania accounts for more than 64 per cent of the U.S. production.
Pickup in demand
Demand, adds Litvin, is up across several regions. “There are many factors increasing consumption including health benefits, flavor and tremendous flexibility in product usage,” says Litvin. “After all, mushrooms are used in eating occasions that range from breakfast and lunch, to salads, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. Plus the increasing usage of mushrooms in “blendability”, blending mushrooms with ground beef, turkey or chicken, to make healthier and tastier versions of many dishes.”
Not surprisingly, pricing has increased with the limited supply of fresh mushrooms available. “Pricing has been increasing over the past few months,” he says. “We’ve been getting calls from customers over the past two months looking for product that they have been unable to get from their current supplier.”
Litvin anticipates that supply will likely remain very tight through to the end of January.
For more information:
Bill Litvin
Giorgio Fresh Mushrooms
Tel: +1-610-926-2800
[email protected]
www.giorgiofresh.com