Increasing production and promoting adoption of organic king oyster mushrooms

Project Overview

FNE06-584
Project Type: Farmer
Funds awarded in 2006: $8,644.00
Projected End Date: 12/31/2007
Region: Northeast
State: New York
Project Leader:
John Morelli
Flower City Mushrooms, LLC

Annual Reports

Commodities

  • Miscellaneous: mushrooms

Practices

  • Crop Production: biological inoculants
  • Education and Training: extension, on-farm/ranch research
  • Farm Business Management: market study
  • Pest Management: prevention, sanitation, traps
  • Production Systems: general crop production
  • Soil Management: composting
  • Sustainable Communities: new business opportunities, sustainability measures

    Proposal summary:

    The king oyster mushroom is often characterized as the best-tasting and best-textured mushroom, yet U.S. production has been largely unsuccessful. This project will investigate three approaches to producing king oyster mushrooms organically so they are an economically viable crop. The project will also look at developing a soil amendment from the spent mushroom substrate and promoting the adoption of the mushroom as a new, locally available organic item. Outreach will be through newsletters, publications, meetings, and farm tours.

    Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.