After the button and oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms are the third most widely produced mushrooms in the world, with the market in America the fastest growing of all. They are umbrella shaped and dark brown in color and are a major staple in the Chinese diet, as well as a major protein source in Japan. While growing mushrooms has recently become more popular, they have been used for their culinary diversity and as a natural medicine for years, most notably in the Asian cultures.
For more than twenty-five years now, shiitake mushrooms have been produced commercially in America, and are gaining in popularity among gourmet shops. They are often utilized in vegetarian meals as a substitute for meat due to their meaty texture and full bodied flavor. They will fetch wholesale prices of around $5.00 to $9.00 a pound and those who cultivate them will usually receive about $5.00 to $7.00 for mushrooms that are fresh and nicely shaped.
Anyone who is considering growing mushrooms as a way to make money should consider growing shiitake mushrooms. They are a good choice because they can be cultivated using an artificial or wild-simulated growing environment. Those who wish to grow mushrooms on an intensive scale usually require a large initial capital investment, as there are special criteria for growing mushrooms in large volumes. Normally compressed grain or sawdust logs or blocks are used as the growing medium, as are climate controlled indoor growing environments, all of which may be expensive.
A shady location is required to stack and store the logs, and the total vicinity needs an adequate amount of room in order to move the logs, load the trucks and carry out any other jobs that are necessary for the manufacture of mushrooms. No less than 60 percent shade is required, which is why hardwood and pine tree forests are great, as the hardwoods provide shade throughout the heat of summer and the pines give unbroken shade.
As with cultivating and selling any product you have risks involved and when it comes to shiitake mushrooms those potential problems include marketing challenges, pest damage and inclement weather. As with all mushrooms, an extended dry or hot period means you will need extra moisture for the mushrooms or you stand the chance of having a low crop yield or an inferior product, which means you will receive lower prices when you are ready to sell them.
For more than twenty-five years now, shiitake mushrooms have been produced commercially in America, and are gaining in popularity among gourmet shops. They are often utilized in vegetarian meals as a substitute for meat due to their meaty texture and full bodied flavor. They will fetch wholesale prices of around $5.00 to $9.00 a pound and those who cultivate them will usually receive about $5.00 to $7.00 for mushrooms that are fresh and nicely shaped.
Anyone who is considering growing mushrooms as a way to make money should consider growing shiitake mushrooms. They are a good choice because they can be cultivated using an artificial or wild-simulated growing environment. Those who wish to grow mushrooms on an intensive scale usually require a large initial capital investment, as there are special criteria for growing mushrooms in large volumes. Normally compressed grain or sawdust logs or blocks are used as the growing medium, as are climate controlled indoor growing environments, all of which may be expensive.
A shady location is required to stack and store the logs, and the total vicinity needs an adequate amount of room in order to move the logs, load the trucks and carry out any other jobs that are necessary for the manufacture of mushrooms. No less than 60 percent shade is required, which is why hardwood and pine tree forests are great, as the hardwoods provide shade throughout the heat of summer and the pines give unbroken shade.
As with cultivating and selling any product you have risks involved and when it comes to shiitake mushrooms those potential problems include marketing challenges, pest damage and inclement weather. As with all mushrooms, an extended dry or hot period means you will need extra moisture for the mushrooms or you stand the chance of having a low crop yield or an inferior product, which means you will receive lower prices when you are ready to sell them.
About the Author:
Mushrooms have been used for centuries as a natural form of medicine, and medicinal mushrooms are experiencing a revival these days. You may be happy to discover that your favorite dish made with shiitake mushrooms actually helps your body. Learn more at our Medicinal Mushrooms site.
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