An appropriate title for a blog written on Easter Monday.

Normally the 7th day is a day of rest. Good for people after a week of working but not always good if mushrooms take a rest. Read: they stop growing. This can happen during the fructification and if the reaction of the grower is too slow, the flush grows out to be too small.

Fructification is split into two sections. 4 to 5 days for making the mushrooms or forming the primordia. The second part is roughly from day 5 till the start of the first flush. During the first part RH, ambient temperature and CO2 are the main parameters to control the number of primordia. Compost temperature is for me not that important at that time. After day 5 the RH is lowered to let the primordia grow out to be mushrooms. The CO2 is dropped slowly and we also start dropping the temperature to reach 17.5° C ambient temperature at the start of the flush (my favourite temperature to work with).

On day 7 one can see mushrooms developing in the size of 2 to 5 millimetres. And then this phenomenon can occur. You look during your morning check and everything looks good. The next day, nothing has happened. General reaction is waiting. But if you look carefully, in most of the cases the room is not taking enough fresh air. CO2 is okay, RH is okay, air temperature is okay and the compost temperature is declining. If the minimum fresh air setting is too low, the room can have a lack of oxygen and mushrooms just stop developing. Simplest thing to do is to drop the CO2 setting to 800 ppm for a couple of hours. To avoid this however and the best way to handle this, is to make sure that the minimum fresh air setting is around 25%. Then the climate unit will always use enough fresh air and mushrooms keep growing. By the way, this happens mostly with strains which tend to give bigger mushrooms. Because they already tend to give fewer mushrooms.

Mushrooms are good for you! Adding four to five medium sized mushrooms (100 g) to your diet provides important vitamins and minerals, essential for a healthy body and active lifestyle.
Mushrooms are a source of:

B Complex Vitamins – Mushrooms are a good source of B vitamins such as niacin, riboflavin, and panotothenic acid. These B vitamins help to provide energy by breaking down proteins, fats, and carbohydrates. B vitamins also play an important role in the nervous system.

Minerals – Mushrooms are a source of important minerals such as selenium, copper, and potassium. Minerals are necessary for the proper function of the human body and play different roles from making healthy red blood cells to protecting body cells.

Fibre – Mushrooms contain both soluble fibre and insoluble fibre, which helps to maintain good bowel health.

Vitamin D – Vitamin D works with Calcium and Phosphorus to make strong bones. Mushrooms are the only source of vitamin D in the produce aisle and one of the few non-fortified food sources.

Mushrooms are low in:

Fat
Carbohydrates
Sodium
Cholesterol
Sugar

Some easy ways to add more mushrooms and nutrients into your diet:

Add ½ cup white button mushrooms to your omelet or scrambled eggs. Benefit: one 1 extra gram of fibre.
Mix 1 cup of diced portabella mushrooms into pasta or pasta sauce. Benefit: three 3 extra grams of fibre.
Include 1 ½ cups sliced crimini (brown) mushrooms in risotto or other rice dishes. Benefit: five 5 extra grams of fibre.

Source: Mushrooms Canada

On April 16, in one of grottoes located in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Pleurotus geesteranus are showing good growth trend.
“In grottoes, temperature is kept at 20 degrees Celsius or so throughout the year, they are the nature incubator and are quite suitable for mushroom cultivation. And, they also help cut facility cost,” introduces Mr. Zhou Kerong, person in charge of the mushroom grottoes passionately, introducing that under the guidance of experts, he successfully output over 60,000 mushroom bags in 2018, and earned 20,000 CNY of revenues.
This year, Mr. Zhou cultivates over 40,000 mushroom bags in grottoes, daily fruiting volume reaches up to 500-1000 kg. And, Pleurotus geesteranus cultivated in grottoes are sold at 8-16 CNY per kg. Next step, Mr. Zhou intends to expand his cultivation scale and fully make full use of natural grottoes so as to produce more profits.

Affordable, nutritious and delicious, fresh mushrooms are making their mark. Even though they look simple, mushrooms have a whole lot going for them in the nutrition department.
Essential Nutrients

A half-cup serving of cooked sliced mushrooms has a mere 14 calories, virtually no fat, 1 gram of fibre and is a source of phosphorus, potassium, copper, selenium, niacin and pantothenic acid. Mushrooms are also a good source of riboflavin, and are the only vegetable in the produce section with natural Vitamin D. All that goodness with little calories and fat makes mushrooms a nutrient dense food and a healthy choice.
Antioxidants

Fresh mushrooms contain a powerful antioxidant called L-ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is found in both raw and cooked mushrooms. Portabella and crimini mushrooms have the most, followed by white button mushrooms.
Fibre

Mushrooms offer both soluble and insoluble fibre, which helps to maintain good bowel health.
Cancer-Fighting

Fresh mushrooms offer nutrients such as beta-glucans and conjugated linoleic acid, compounds that are currently being studied for their chemo-preventive potential. Recent research suggests that mushrooms (and mushroom extracts) may have powerful anti-tumour activity, for both breast and prostate cancer.
Immunity

A strong immune system helps protect against infections from bacteria and viruses. Emerging research indicates that certain mushroom extracts (including extracts from the white button mushrooms), may have a positive effect on the immune system.
Weight Management

Fresh mushrooms are nutrient dense, meaning they are high in nutrients and low in calories. They also have high water content, are low in fat, and contain some fibre; three factors that will help keep you feeling fuller for longer. Researchers have found that people who eat satisfying portions of foods that are less energy-dense have greater success at weight loss and maintenance.

Fresh Mushrooms Can Help!

Recent Studies Show that fresh mushrooms can help with:

Blood Pressure
Arthritis
Diabetes
Heart Health
Gout
Healthy Aging
Childhood Obesity
Diverticulosis

Source: Mushrooms.ca

Casseroles are a fantastic way to feed a hungry family of four or serve at a potluck to feed a group of twenty, especially when one uses the Blend and Extend method.

Recipe and photo by The Brunette Baker.

Prep Time: 10 mins. | Cook Time: 20 mins.
Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef
1 punnet white or crimini mushrooms, chopped
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 clove garlic, finely chopped
1 large green bell pepper, diced
1 teaspoon sea salt
½ teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons tomato paste
1 28-ounce can of diced tomatoes
2 15-ounce cans tomato sauce
1 tablespoon chili powder (Add more or less, depending on your heat tolerance)
1 pound cooked elbow macaroni
Directions

1. In a large saucepan, add olive oil and sauté onions and peppers for about 5 minutes. Add in ground beef, mushrooms, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until ground beef is thoroughly cooked.

2. Add in diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, worcestershire sauce, and sugar; stir well. Allow sauce to boil for about 5 minutes. Reduce heat and simmer.

3. Add cooked macaroni to meat and mushroom sauce and stir to combine. Adjust salt and pepper and add in chill powder. Give a good stir to ensure all flavours have come together.

4. Serve hot. Sprinkle with grated parmesan cheese and serve with garlic bread.

The immune system is the body’s first line of defense against disease and infection. A healthy immune system is important at every age. A strong immune system helps protect against infections from bacteria and viruses. It also helps protect against other health problems such as arthritis and certain types of cancer.1

There are many ways you can keep your immunity boosted. Getting enough sleep, keeping stress levels in check, exercising every day and being at a healthy weight will go a long way to maximize your wellness. Good nutrition is also essential for maintaining the immune system in top shape. Including a wide variety of nutrient-rich foods in your diet gives your body the nutrition it needs to help protect against illness and lower the risk of developing chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. That’s where mushrooms come in.
Fresh Mushrooms Can Help! Boosting Immunity

A 2006 study found that the beta-glucan, a polysaccharide that is part of the soluble fibre found in mushrooms, had potential anti-inflammatory activity, which may help protect the body against disease.2
Mushrooms extracts may also stimulate different cells of the immune system.(3,4)

Vitamins and Minerals

A 2000 study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that elderly subjects who were deficient in vitamins and minerals, including selenium, zinc, vitamin B6 and folate, also had fewer and less effective natural killer cells.5
A ½ cup serving of uncooked, white button mushrooms is an excellent source of selenium, and a good source of niacin, copper, pantothenic acid and selenium. You’ll also get some vitamin B6, vitamin C, folate and zinc.6

Adding the Antioxidants

Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in mushrooms that may also help protect the body’s cells.7 Ergothioneine is found in both raw and cooked mushrooms.

Mushrooms Make a Difference8

Mix in ½ cup chopped shiitake mushrooms into clear broth or consommé. Benefit: add 18 micrograms of selenium (26% of the Daily Value)
Add ½ cup sliced fresh crimini mushrooms into egg dishes. Benefit: add 9 micrograms of selenium (13% of the Daily Value)
Top pasta with ½ cup grilled Portabella mushrooms. Benefit: add 11 micrograms of selenium (15% of the Daily Value).

Source: Mushrooms.ca

For the complete article, click here

According to mushroom quotation provided by Anhui Zhougudui Agricultural Products Wholesale Market, on April 2, White beech mushroom, Brown Shimeji mushroom, King oyster mushroom, Enoki mushroom, Seafood mushroom and Shiitake mushroom are 6 varieties that show price fall.

1.Price of White beech mushroom has dropped from 10.8 to 8.3 CNY per kg, indicating 23% of decline range.

2.Price of Brown Shimeji mushroom has dropped from 11.6 to 9.1 CNY per kg, indicating 21% of decline range.

3.Price of King oyster mushroom has dropped from 6.5 to 5 CNY per kg, indicating 23% of decline range.

4.Price of Enoki mushroom has dropped from 5.75 to 4.5 CNY per kg, indicating 21% of decline range.

5.Price of Seafood mushroom has dropped from 7.5 to 6.6 CNY per kg, indicating 12% of decline range.

6.Price of Shiitake mushroom has dropped from 14 to 13 CNY per kg, indicating 7% of decline range.

On the contrary, on April 2, Pleurotus geesteranus is the sole variety that shows price rise, from 10 CNY to 14 CNY per kg, indicating 40% of increase range.

“Price of Drumstick mushroom, Agrocybe cylindracea, Button mushroom and Black fungus is respectively at 10 CNY, 9 CNY, 9 CNY and 8 CNY per kg,” introduces manager of Anhui Zhougudui Agricultural Products Wholesale Market warmly.

We are all experiencing difficult and challenging times. Times we have never experienced before and hopefully we can all recover from it. Our health is the most important thing to focus on as well as taking care of eachother. Maybe we are even more closer than ever!

This corona virus has besides to our health, also a large impact on mushroom businesses, hopefully you all have found ways to cope with it. Maybe even accelerate your innovation roadmap!

We as Mushroom Matter haved asked ourselves the question how we can become more closer and more meaningful to people around the globe during this period. So we are going to focus on the health benefits of mushrooms and make sure that the mushroom finds it's way to the consumer even more.

We are starting a positive mushroom campaign on our website and social media channels #mushroomsmatterforyourhealth and would kindly appreciate your help by sending us information you have on mushrooms and why they are so important for our health and future*. Please send us your input to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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