A lot of farms around the globe are using imported casing soil from Europe. A good, heavy casing soil with a good water holding capacity will give many benefits and are making it worth the investment to import the casing from that far away instead of using other alternatives. However, it’s really important to prepare the casing soil the right way and get the casing on the growing beds the right way, without losing those benefits. Getting a good, consistent casing on the beds will give better yields and quality and let’s go through the process to see what is the best way to prepare and adjusting the casing soil would be.

All the big bags transported from Europe have the casing soil inside for some weeks. When stored at site you need to add that extra time. Not hard to understand that the wet, heavy casing soil will get anaerobic spots inside the big bags. Therefore, it would be beneficial to open up the bags a few days before you will use it to open it all up, get it aerated, and get rid of the anaerobic spots. Of course you need a good clean space to do that. Another big advantage of that is that you are able to mix all bags together which will give a much better consistent moisture in the casing. Although the casing companies are trying to get the same moisture in all big bags it’s hard to get that done perfectly all the way through and mixing them all up will improve that.

Not the ideal situation but if there is no clean space available you can unload the casing soil from the big bags directly into the machinery.

Mixing of the bags can be done with a bucket of a loader, a Bobcat or something similar. That way the structure will not get damaged much, just don’t push too hard when driving into the casing and drop it carefully and not too high. After the mixing with the casing lying on a floor you also have the possibility the get the required moisture in the casing up to the required level. Watering can be done on the top of the casing with a water hose but of course make sure to spread that evenly over the whole batch. After being on the floor for one day the water will have the time to get through all the layer of the casing soil and that will also get the PH level more even. Uneven PH levels will give uneven grow speeds of the mycelium.

The casing we use has to deal with different climate periods. Those changes will be occurring all year around and they will change the amount of water you need to adjust the casing with. It’s never a routine job to add water but, same as in the grow rooms, it needs attention and adjusting accordingly.
You can use a mixing machine as well to add water and get it all mixed well, just ensure you don’t break the structure of the casing too much and don’t use augers to mix it. Augers will damage the structure by compress the casing and press out all air between the clumps.

As you see there are a lot of things that can influence the quality of the imported casing. Just make sure to adjust to your current situation and try to get the best result out of it.

Erik de Groot
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According to mushroom quotation provided by Yunnan Guanshang Vegetable Market, on August 1, Shiitake mushroom, Oyster mushroom, King oyster mushroom, Enoki mushroom, Agrocybe cylindracea and Seafood mushroom are 6 varieties that show price rise.

1. Price of Shiitake mushroom has risen from 9 to 12 CNY per kg, indicating 33% of increase range.

2. Price of Oyster mushroom has risen from 5.5 to 8.6 CNY per kg, indicating 56% of increase range.

3. Price of King oyster mushroom has risen from 5.5 to 6 CNY per kg, indicating 9% of increase range.

4. Price of Enoki mushroom has risen from 4.3 to 5.0 CNY per kg, indicating 16% of increase range.

5. Price of Agrocybe cylindracea has risen from 8.7 to 10.7 CNY per kg, indicating 23% of increase range.

6. Price of Seafood mushroom has risen from 6.5 to 8 CNY per kg, indicating 23% of increase range.

On the contrary, by August 1, White beech mushroom is the sole variety that shows price fall, from 13.3 to 11.7 CNY per kg, indicating 12% of decline range.

“Price of Button mushroom and Brown Shimeji mushroom is respectively at 12.9 CNY and 13.3 CNY per kg. In comparison with the price of the end of June, now, price of mushroom indicates a rise tendency in our market as growth and transportation of mushroom is affected by hot weather,” said manager of Yunnan Guanshang Vegetable Market warmly.

Dutch platform #zokanhetook is an initiative of the Green Protein Alliance, this organization is a Dutch movement who supports people to eat more vegan. Mushrooms play an important part in a vegan lifestyle and is a perfect replacement for meat. #zokanhetook shares a lot of vegan recipes, inspiration, vegan products and tips. More information you can find on their website!

More information on the Green Protein Alliance

Who are we?
The Green Protein Alliance (GPA) is a unique alliance between 25 retailers, the catering industry, food producers and 10 knowledge partners in the Netherlands, supported by the Dutch Government. Their common goal: restoring a healthy and sustainable balance in protein consumption.

What are our goals?
The current ratio of plantbased:animal protein in the Dutch diet is 37:63. GPA’s ambition is to realize a 50:50 balance no later than 2025. This balance is a first step towards a more healthy and sustainable diet. Our Green Protein Growth Plan (in Dutch) describes how we realize this ambition.

Why is this important?
Experts worldwide agree: the protein transition, or shift, is the most urgent challenge in the food domain.

What have we accomplished so far?
The GPA was founded in 2017. Already in its first year, the association proved that a transition approach, involving all chain-partners, works: consumption of meat and dairy is declining, while that of pulses, nuts, meat analogues and plant-based alternatives for dairy are rising.

Please check the GPA website here

In order to accelerate the development of mushroom industry, enlarge the local brand of Black fungus, Fang County of Hubei Province takes the lead in introducing trial vertical technology of hanging-bag Black fungus cultivation. Now, in Tianhe Mushroom Cooperative, Black fungi are leading satisfactory growth tendency, the expected mu output reaches 1000 kg.

“In the past, growers used to put Black fungus bags in the fields, which indicates large area occupation, unstable output and unsure quality. Now, hanging-bag Black fungus cultivation technology breaks the traditional cultivation pattern and increases the amount of bags in unit area,” introduces related technicians warmly, going on that through scientific regulation on illumination, humidity and temperature in greenhouse, superior growing conditions for Black fungus could be created while growers also acquire high output and good quality. In equivalent area, its final output is five to six times higher than that of traditional cultivation pattern. Besides, hanging-bag pattern also effectively averts diseases and pests, lifts the quality and increases growers’ incomes.

According to mushroom quotation provided by Jiangsu Changzhou Lingjiatang Wholesale Market, on July 22, Shiitake mushroom, Superior Shiitake mushroom, Enoki mushroom, White beech mushroom, Brown Shimeji mushroom and Seafood mushroom are 6 varieties that show price rise.

1. Price of Shiitake mushroom has risen from 15 to 16 CNY per kg, indicating 7% of increase range.

2. Price of Superior Shiitake mushroom has risen from 16 to 20 CNY per kg, indicating 25% of increase range.

3. Price of Enoki mushroom has risen from 4 to 5 CNY per kg, indicating 25% of increase range.

4. Price of White beech mushroom has risen from 8 to 11 CNY per kg, indicating 38% of increase range.

5. Price of Brown Shimeji mushroom has risen from 8 to 11 CNY per kg, indicating 38% of increase range.

6. Price of Seafood mushroom has risen from 8 to 11 CNY per kg, indicating 38% of increase range.

On the contrary, by July 22, White mushroom (Button mushroom) is the sole variety that shows price fall, from 14 to 12 CNY per kg, indicating 14% of decline range.

“Price of Pleurotus geesteranus, King oyster mushroom, Black fungus, Agrocybe cylindracea, Cordyceps militaris and Straw mushroom is respectively at 12 CNY, 5 CNY, 7 CNY, 10 CNY, 20 CNY and 20 CNY per kg. Compared with the price in June, now, price of mushroom is at an overall upward trend. And, by reason of source of supply, price of Agrocybe cylindracea fluctuates significantly in the market,” introduces manager of Jiangsu Changzhou Lingjiatang Wholesale Market warmly.

According to mushroom quotation provided by Beijing Xinfadi Agricultural Products Wholesale Market, on July 16, King oyster mushroom, Enoki mushroom, Button mushroom, Agrocybe cylindracea, Pleurotus nebrodensis, Cordyceps militaris and Drumstick mushroom are 7 varieties that show price rise.

1. Price of King oyster mushroom has risen from 5.5 to 6 CNY per kg, indicating 9% of increase range.

2. Price of Enoki mushroom has risen from 3.8 to 4.5 CNY per kg, indicating 18% of increase range.

3. Price of Button mushroom has risen from 13.8 to 14 CNY per kg, indicating 1% of increase range.

4. Price of Agrocybe cylindracea has risen from 8.4 to 13.3 CNY per kg, indicating 58% of increase range.

5. Price of Pleurotus nebrodensis has risen from 25 to 27.5 CNY per kg, indicating 10% of increase range.

6. Price of Cordyceps militaris has risen from 10 to 10.5 CNY per kg, indicating 5% of increase range.

7. Price of Drumstick mushroom has risen from 8 to 9.6 CNY per kg, indicating 20% of increase range.

On the contrary, by July 16, White beech mushroom, Seafood mushroom and Big Clitocybe are 3 mushroom varieties that show price fall.

1. Price of White beech mushroom has dropped from 10.8 to 10 CNY per kg, indicating 7% of decline range.

2. Price of Seafood mushroom has dropped from 8 to 7.2 CNY per kg, indicating 10% of decline range.

3. Price of Big Clitocybe has dropped from 23.4 to 20 CNY per kg, indicating 15% of decline range.

“Price of Shiitake mushroom, Superior Shiitake mushroom, Brown Shimeji mushroom and Pholiota nameko is respectively at 10 CNY, 20 CNY, 15 CNY and 10 CNY per kg. Each summer, price of mushroom seasonally rises in our market. Besides, recently, by reason of tardy growth speed caused by hot season, price of Agrocybe cylindracea holds large increase range while the variety is in tense supply,” said manager of Beijing Xinfadi Agricultural Products Wholesale Market warmly.