We’re delighted to bring you the latest news about the 45th AMGA Conference, set to take place in the stunning city of Auckland, New Zealand. Organized by the New Zealand Commercial Mushroom Growers Federation and Meadow Mushrooms, this event is a must-attend for those in the mushroom industry.

• Date: October 22-24, 2024
• Location: Auckland, New Zealand

The AU + NZ Mushroom Growers Conference 2024 will feature:

• Fascinating Farm Tours
• Renowned International Guest Speakers
• Insightful Australian Researchers
• Engaging Exhibitions
• Two Networking Events

Additionally, attendees can look forward to an exclusive farm tour at Mercer Mushrooms and an all-inclusive tour option to Meadow Mushrooms in Christchurch on October 25th.
For more information about the event, please click here.

As the sun's warm embrace blankets the earth, a quiet wonder emerges beneath the forest canopies, in fields, and even in our own backyards. Mushrooms, those enigmatic and diverse organisms, have their own story to tell during the summertime. From vibrant hues to hidden ecosystems, let's embark on a global adventure to explore how mushrooms flourish during this magical season.

1. Bountiful Forests of North America
In North America, the summertime brings forth a bountiful display of wild mushrooms. From the iconic morels to the majestic chanterelles, forests come alive with a myriad of shapes, colors, and flavors. Enthusiastic foragers take to the woods to harvest these gastronomic treasures, while fungi experts study their ecological roles. The diverse landscapes of the continent offer a playground for mushrooms, showcasing the symbiotic dance between these fungi and the trees they call home.

2. European Forests
Across the Atlantic, European forests present their own captivating tales of summertime mushrooms. The enchanting forests of France, for instance, are famous for their delectable truffles. Skilled truffle hunters and their faithful dogs work tirelessly, seeking the precious fungi hidden beneath the earth. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom's woodlands come alive with fairy tale-esque mushrooms, like the iconic fly agaric, adding a touch of whimsy to the landscape.

3. The Fungi Fiesta in South America
In the lush rainforests of South America, a fungi fiesta unfolds during the summer months. These tropical forests, teeming with life, harbor an incredible diversity of fungi, many of which remain undiscovered by science. These mushrooms play vital roles in the ecosystem, breaking down organic matter and supporting the balance of the rainforest.

4. The Magic of Asian Fungi
Across Asia, a rich tradition of mushroom cultivation and consumption has been practiced for centuries. From the revered shiitake to the intriguing lion's mane, Asia's mushroom culture is deeply intertwined with its culinary heritage and traditional medicine. The summertime in Asia brings forth an abundance of mushrooms, enriching the regional cuisine and adding a burst of umami flavor to dishes.

5. Hidden Gems in Australia
Even in the arid landscapes of Australia, mushrooms find a way to thrive during the summer months. Fungi like the desert truffle emerge from the sandy soil, revealing the adaptability and resilience of these organisms. In this challenging environment, mushrooms play a unique role, contributing to the delicate balance of the ecosystem.

From the mystical forests of North America to the rainforests of South America, the summertime mushroom stories from around the world reveal the incredible adaptability, diversity, and significance of these organisms. As we enjoy the warm months, let's take a moment to appreciate the hidden wonders beneath our feet - the mushrooms that quietly remind us of the magic of nature and its ceaseless cycles of life and renewal. Whether foraging for a culinary delight or simply reveling in the beauty of these fungi, the summertime offers a perfect opportunity to connect with the fascinating world of mushrooms.

If you’re like most people, setting a new year’s resolution that involves health and wellness is something that was on top of your 2022 to-do list.

If you’ve found yourself failing at accomplishing these goals in the past, it may be time to move away from a detox type or other quick fix type dietary approaches, and instead embrace the steps needed to fill the fridge with real food and start eating in an intuitive way.

Detox and restrictive type diets simply don’t work, they are not sustainable and overlook the fact that your body’s liver, kidneys, skin and lungs are already doing the job needed to detox and eliminate waste on a continuous basis. Trying to shed weight quickly, via a drastic cut in your usual calories or kilojoules, will generally back-fire. As your body thinks you are starving or in a famine type scenario, it will try to fight back. This is done via slowdown in your metabolic rate (how fast you usually burn the food kilojoules or calories you eat). It also means any initial weight loss, will be regained a lot quicker and then a lot harder to take off the next time around. The bottom line is that you will go a lot further if you focus on habits that allow you to implement nutritious foods into your diet, rather than restricting and cutting out superfoods such as mushrooms.

Please read the full article here.
Source: AMGA / Australian Mushroom Growers´ Assoc.

With this year’s reunions set to be extra special, December is a wonderful time for catching up with our loved ones, swapping gifts, and indulging in feasts together. Of course, with all the celebrations, Christmas isn’t always a good time for our health (or the scales)!

We know that by simply adding mushrooms to our Christmas stuffing, to chip and dip platters for entertaining, and including mushrooms in summer BBQ recipes is a great way to serve lighter, healthier and tastier meals this festive season - but there are also very specific reasons why mushrooms are a great health gift to give your loved ones this Christmas.

White Mushroom Cups – The gift of vitamin D.

The white mushroom cup is on the top of our Christmas tree, as it is Australia’s most popular festive mushroom - with good reason. Despite its small size, exciting new Australian research1 has uncovered that this little mushroom is full of B group vitamins (including B12), minerals, antioxidants, and gut health nutrients. The research also confirmed something very exciting - mushrooms are the only wholefood able to provide 100% of the daily recommended dose of vitamin D per serve.

Presenting as an active hormone called ergosterol, mushrooms can produce vitamin D in a similar process to our skin. When mushrooms are exposed to sunlight for just 15-minutes the ergosterol converts into a bioactive form of vitamin D, which we absorb when we eat the mushroom. Amazingly, once a mushroom has been ‘supercharged’ with vitamin D by being exposed to the sun, the new D levels remain in the mushroom for up-to a week if they are stored in the fridge.

Please read the full article here.
Source: AMGA / Australian Mushroom Growers´ Assoc.