NASS report shows decline in production

Mushroom News, Oct, 2006

The 2005-2006 annual mushroom report released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) shows production for all types of mushrooms at 843 million pounds. The farm value of all mushroom sales during the 2005/06 crop year (July through June), totaled $881 million. The number of growers is up nine from last season to a total of 305. The average price is $1.05 per pound, down two cents from 2004-05.

Fresh Agaricus sales volume recovered most of its loss of a year ago, rising one percent to 701 million pounds and accounting for 84 percent of all Agaricus sales. With demand soft, average prices for fresh-market mushrooms slipped to $1.12 per pound, while the unit value of processing mushrooms dropped eight percent to $.42 per pound.

The sales volume of processing Agaricus mushrooms resumed its downward trend, to 129 million pounds, nine percent below last season. Processing sales declined despite a concurrent decline of 10 percent in imports of canned mushrooms.

The sales volume of specialty mushrooms (excluding Brown Agaricus), most of which are sold in the fresh market, declined 10 percent to 13.5 million pounds. Shiitake and Oyster mushroom sales each increased. Volume declined across all types, including Shiitake (down 10 percent), which accounted for 57 percent of specialty volume. Brown mushrooms including Portabella and Crimini varieties remained a bright spot in the industry, with sales volume increasing 17 percent to 117 million pounds in 2005/06. Popular in both retail and foodservice venues, these varieties now account for 14 percent of total Agaricus volume and 18 percent of sales value.

The volume of certified organic mushroom sales declined seven percent to 32.5 million pounds in 2005/06. The share of the U.S. mushroom market consisting of certified organic products remained at four percent in 2005/06.

Agaricus bed and tray production area for next season is expected to decline three percent to 136 million square feet. While growers in the Eastern and Central states intend to reduce area, those in the Western states expect to increase square footage one percent led by California with a three percent gain expected. Given this drop in area, even if yields continue to trend higher in an attempt to spread rising costs over more units, U.S. Agaricus mushroom production is likely to decline in the 2006/07 season. As a result, mushroom imports are likely to rise during the coming year.

To view the entire report, go to http://www.americanmushroom.org and click on links. Scroll down to the National Agricultural Statistic Service--Mushrooms, which will take you to the NASS home page.

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USDA NASS & Economic Research Service Reports

August, 2006