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 good price. If too big, their conservation period is reduced; they are not so sweet and tasty. Harvesting should be done two or three times a day.
- Put mushrooms in order in a basket, about 5-8 kg per basket. Trim and peel by cutting at the base of the stalk to make the mushroom clean. Place mushrooms in basket.
- Weigh all mushrooms and take notes.
Note: A bag of mushrooms should yield between 250 – 350 grams of mushrooms in 4 to 5 flushes.
Bags lose much of their weight once they have exhausted their pro
Step 13. PACKAGING
Packaging
Before packaging, make sure all mushrooms are well-trimmed.
For selling fresh mushrooms on the market, little or no packaging is required. Mushrooms are weighed and placed in paper or plastic bags.
Mushrooms cannot keep for long and therefore all mushrooms must be sold quickly the following harvesting. They can keep in a refrigerator for 12 – 24 hours. To avoid humidity from accumulating in the bag, place mushrooms in bags and blow air in them. Tie the bag with a rubber band.
If no refrigerator is available, place mushrooms on banana leaves in a cool area, or put them on top of a water under the shade in a well-ventilated place.
Mushroom Farm Behind the Scenes
Video by StefanoInside the World of Humble Fungi: A Small Farm with Big Passion Humble Fungi, run by Nate and his wife, is a growing mushroom farm tucked away in the U.S., but with roots that stretch all the way to Japan. After returning from teaching and missionary...
Growing Sales at a Farmers Market
Video by Fresh from the Farm FungiHow to Start Selling Your Gourmet Mushrooms at Farmers Markets If your friends and family have had their fill of your delicious gourmet mushrooms, it might be time to take your passion to the next level: selling at your local farmers...
Day at the Farmers Market
This video is by Long Beach MushroomsA Day at the Farmers Market with Long Beach Mushrooms Dustin from Long Beach Mushrooms recently shared a behind-the-scenes look at what a typical farmers market day is like for his business. On this particular morning, he loaded up...
Best Gourmet Mushroom Types for New Growers to Cultivate
Key Highlights Discover the best gourmet mushroom varieties perfect for new indoor growers seeking high yields and marketable options. Learn why mushrooms like oyster, shiitake, and lion’s mane are beginner-friendly and packed with culinary appeal. Understand...
Starting a mushroom farm for less
This video is by Mountain View Mushrooms Starting a mushroom farm doesn't have to drain your savings. In fact, it's possible to get up and running for far less than you might expect, especially if you start small and scale up as your skills and confidence grow. Here’s...
Growing Shiitake Mushrooms at Home Using Liquid Culture
Video of liquid culture work by Southwest MushroomsGrowing Shiitake Mushrooms at Home: How to Create and Use Liquid Culture Cultivating shiitake mushrooms at home can be both rewarding and cost-effective. One highly efficient method used by home cultivators is...
Gourmet Mushroom Wholesale Tips
Video from Harmoney MushroomGourmet Mushroom Wholesale Tips Wholesale mushroom sales can significantly boost your farm’s profitability by enabling you to sell larger quantities quickly. So here are some gourmet mushroom wholesale tips. While retail sales at farmers'...
Indoor mushroom farm tour
Video by Fungi AllyInside Rock City Mushrooms: A Tour of Underground Fungi Cultivation Ever wondered what goes on behind the scenes at a mushroom farm? Join us as we take a fascinating tour of Rock City Mushrooms with owner Ben, who shows us how they grow an...
Growing Fast Fruiting Mushrooms Indoors
Video by Mike Crowe of Southwest MushroomsThe Art of Growing Gourmet Mushrooms: A Comprehensive Guide Cultivating gourmet mushrooms at home or in small-scale operations can be both rewarding and profitable. With the right techniques, even limited space can yield...