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Recommendations
- The structure of Georgia's mushroom industry should be
technologically innovative and utilize economies of scale associated with increased
production. Small "Mom and Pop" type operations should not be pursued
because they have limited chance of success and profitability due to
higher production costs and inefficiencies, and limited access to larger
and lucrative markets.
- Due to the economic benefits of value added products, efforts should
be undertaken to examine the merits of value added mushroom based
products. This includes fast food products, meals ready to eat,
pharmaceuticals, and the use of alternative substrate materials for spawn
production.
- The potential for e-commerce should also be investigated. Mushroom
products, made available similar to the fruit in Harry and David's Fruit
of the Month Club, have enormous economic potential. The viability of
merchandising mushroom thru e-commerce should be examined with a pilot
study utilizing an Internet server such as Yahoo.com. "Yahoo! Store" is
a feature of this particular server that allows merchandisers to create
an online storefront and includes tracking and sales tools which enable
producers to evaluate a business venture.
- A fundamental step in the creation of this new industry is the stable
supply of superior quality, economically priced mushroom spawn. Due to
rapidly changing technologies, and the potential for growth in the
mushroom industry, a Georgia spawn production facility should be built.
This facility also should be developed in incremental stages to allow for
future growth and expansion. This facility must be state-of-the-art and
include on-site research capabilities for alternative substrate
development and spawn production technology. By significantly reducing the
cost of spawn, while maintaining integrity, Georgia can produce and sell
spawn to a world wide market.
- An agricultural commodity requires a research component dedicated to
strain improvement and development, preservation and quality control.
In addition to basic strain selection and breeding, mushroom genomic
research has been initiated at The University of Georgia, where genomic
level investigation on other agricultural crops and on medically
important fungi is currently being carried out. Ongoing and continued
collaboration with The University of Georgia and other research institutions is
therefore needed.
- Additional research regarding alternative substrate development for
Portabello mushrooms, one of the best selling in the U.S., is needed to
produce this economically successful agricultural product in Georgia.
Portabellos are technically not specialty mushrooms; rather they are a
brown variety of Agaricus. Typically, they are grown on a pasteurized
manure/straw substrate, but recent research suggests that they can be
grown on a sawdust/grain substrate like other specialty mushroom species.
Since the Portabello is a highly lucrative crop, additional research
needs to be conducted to maximize its economic potential.
- An opportunity exists for the state of Georgia to become involved
with and profit from the production and sale of essential products for the
mushroom industry. These products include the containers for growers to
package and transport their product, sanitized coveralls, gloves, and
shoecovers for workers, and communication and computer monitoring
devises to allow interaction between university researchers, consultants, and
individual growers. These products can be produced in bulk quantities
to achieve cost efficiencies and resold to growers at a fair price while
still producing a profit for the state. The profits can be used to fund
the commodity commission, create training programs, develop marketing
activities, and conduct research.
- Create a Mushroom Commodity Commission operated and controlled by
growers. The commission would tightly control production to avoid problems
of oversupply which could depress prices and reduce profits. The
commission would be funded through the sale of products required by growers.
In addition, the commission also should be involved with the marketing,
distribution, and production of value added mushroom related products.
- Due to the relative newness of specialty mushrooms, a series of
comprehensive training programs should be developed and initiated.
Production training facilities for growers, (laborers and management),
distributors, wholesalers, retailers, University researchers, extension agents,
chefs, and consumers should be created. The production of educational
videos could enhance the success of these training programs. Efforts to
incorporate innovative and sound mushroom farming practices and
techniques into the current management curriculum of the state's Vocational
Technical Colleges and higher educational institutions should be
investigated.
- Efforts to cooperate and network with the poultry, forest and
horticulture industry could yield new partnerships and uses for agricultural
waste products. In addition, working with various commodity commissions,
like the grain and soybean commissions, could provide new uses for
Georgia agricultural products for spawn production.
- Hold a series of state-wide educational meetings to publicize the
results of the feasibility study and provide information about
opportunities in the mushroom industry. These meetings should be held in various
locations around the state using the facilities of institutions of
higher education and vocational technical colleges.
- One of the most popular mushrooms in Georgia and in the U.S. is the
Oak mushroom (Shiitake). This product should be renamed to avoid any
adverse connotations or misconceptions which may occur due to its name.
The new name should be registered and would become the trademark used to
create an identifiable, Georgia produced product that would create
brand loyalty. Possible names include "Georgia Oak Mushroom" or "Georgia
Red Oak Mushroom".
- The potential use of mushrooms in bio-medical research has been shown
to have considerable merit. Therefore, producing mushrooms for
bio-medical research at laboratories for medical research should be explored at
The University of Georgia and other educational institutions.
- The following mushroom farm construction and production levels are
recommended for the establishment of an effective specialty mushroom
industry in Georgia. Two to 10 oak (Shiitake) mushroom farms (depending on
scale) producing approximately 2 million pounds annually. One or two
dedicated Oyster mushroom farms producing a total of 200,000 pounds
annually. One farm each for Snow Crab, Frondosa, Enoki, and Velvet Ear
mushrooms producing a combined 330,000 pounds annually. It is also
recommended that spawn making be divided into a single master spawn facility and
several satellite production spawn facilities. This will reduce the
possibility of contamination in the master spawn facility and create a
more efficient distribution network to farmers.
- Future research is needed to investigate ways of improving the shelf
life and packaging of specialty mushrooms to increase shipping
distances. This would allow Georgia mushrooms producers to reach more and
distant markets and ultimately would help to reduce costs to the consumer.
- Mushroom growing, spawn research, and value added production
facilities should be strategically located across the state to maximize the
economic impact of those facilities. Locating these facilities, where
feasible, in Tier 1 economically depressed rural areas should be given
serious consideration.
- Substrate research and development activities represent an important
ongoing component of the present and future growth of the mushroom
industry. Determining efficient uses of alternative substrates can improve
production and enhance collaboration with other agricultural and
forestry units seeking to manage waste materials. Efforts which improve and
lower the cost of spawn benefit the entire industry including consumers.
Substrate research and development also plays a role in economic
development as the mushroom industry continues to grow and expand. Supplying
spawn to not only Georgia but U.S. growers could become a lucrative
enterprise. In addition, mushroom substrate is an agricultural waste
product and its expanded uses creates a valuable commodity out of previously
discarded products. Finally, building and maintaining substrate
research facilities could also generate job opportunities particularly in
rural areas.
© 2002. Department of Housing and Consumer
Economics, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, University of
Georgia. All rights reserved.
Contact: Douglas C.
Bachtel, Professor. Website by Shabba Classic.
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