10 Reasons to get into the mushroom growing business:
1. They are in demand
2. Offer a proven niche
3. Can demand high prices for great mushrooms
4. Are great for the environment
5. They can be grown almost anywhere
6. The startup cost can be very low.
7. You can get started for less than $1,000
8. Marketing can be done cheaply and scale and grow with your new
business
9. You can use Social Media Marketing to grow fast
10. The Mushroom Growing Business rewards locally grown
suppliers.
Also, the many benefits of mushrooms profile tremendous value for your customers.
Benefits of Mushrooms:
1. Mushrooms are Healthy – Most varieties are high in vitamin D
and contain main other powerful nutrients.
2. Mushrooms are being studied for cancer research – Recent
studies have started into the possible links between mushroom
consumption and lower risks for certain cancers.
3. Mushrooms can boost other plant growth – Since mushrooms
produce carbon dioxide as they grow they are being used to boost
the growth of other plants in greenhouses around the World.
4. They offer a higher dollar value per pound than most other
vegetables that can be grown in micro-farms.
5. Are great to be grown on rack systems – Saving space and getting
the most out of your available space. Rack systems allow some
small growers to earn a substantial income from a single grow
room.
Harvesting your mushroom crop
HARVESTING Look for mature mushrooms. Mushrooms are ready to be picked 2 - 3 days after they first appear. Pick mushrooms gently by grasping stalk and pulling out slowly. Note: Mushrooms must be harvested at the most appropriate time. If too small, they cannot fetch a...
Opening your incubated mushroom bag
OPENING BAGS Clean around and inside the fruiting body house using a broom. Transfer mature spawn bags to the mushroom fruiting body house using a trolley (or prepare them for fruiting). Place bags on shelves. Open bags according to type 3.1 Oyster mushrooms- Hed...
Incubation of your grow bags
INCUBATING BAGS Clean around and inside the incubation house using a broom. Always inspect for cleanliness before entering with new spawn bags. After inoculation, transfer substrate bags to mushroom incubation house. Place bags on shelves for incubation. Incubation....
Inoculating your grow bags
INOCULATING BAGS WITH SORGHUM SEEDS Note: The inoculation room must be kept very clean and free of diseases to avoid contamination. Avoid sunshine from entering the area. Prepare materials: Alcohol lamp Sorghum coated with spawn Fire Square paper (5’’ x 5’’) Rubber...
Sterilizing your mushroom grow bags
Sterilizing Your Bags There are many ways to sterilize your bags. For small operations (new farms) using a pressure cooker can help you sterilize several small bags at one time. At this time we are considering offering grow bags, and even possibly pre-sterilized grow...
Preparing Mushroom Grow Bags
PRODUCING SUBSTRATE BAGS Prepare materials: Grow bags (polypropylene 7” x 12.5”) alt sizes may be used. The Bags should be grow bags that withstand heat, and have filters attached Oak Pellets Soy Hull Pellets Optional ingredients based on variety and desired yield....
Multiplying your mushroom spawn
MULTIPLYING SPAWN ON SORGHUM SEEDS Prepare materials: Sorghum seeds Bottles (flask type) Cotton (gauze) Paper squares 7 cm x 7 cm Rubber bands Alcohol lamp Alcohol bottle Note: Various types of grains can be used: Sorghum, millet, wheat Grains must: Have been recently...
Mushroom Tissue Cultures
Tissue Cultures Prepare materials: Potatoes: 200 gr. Dextrose: 20 gr. Agar powder: 20 gr. Water: 1 liter. Cotton (gauze) Note: Visually check potatoes for spots or rot. Buy dextrose and Agar of commercial grade. Wash and cut potatoes into one-centimeter cubes; leave...
10 Ways to Profit from mushroom sales
Here is a simple list of some areas of profit for you to consider. There are many more but this is worth review as you consider setting up your business. The direct to consumer sale of your mushrooms – Common methods include the sale of mushrooms to the local market...