By Karen Olson House, September 2007

• Introduction
• Mushrooms in North Carolina
• Edible or poisonous?
• Where to buy fresh mushrooms
• Mushroom nutrition
• Recipes
• Download the full article as a

Mushrooms in North Carolina

A rising interest among North Carolina farmers in exotic mushrooms is attributable in part to funded research aimed at developing the mushroom industry.

Headed by Omoanghe S. Isikhuemhen at N.C. A & T State University, “Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Farming in North Carolina: A Cash Crop for the Future” and subsequent projects have been assisting farmers in getting their own mushrooms started. Isikhuemhen’s outreach workshops across North Carolina have been practical and hands-on, with attendees bringing their own logs in to be inoculated.

“The number of growers has increased dramatically since A & T began their mushroom project,” notes Don Lunsford, spokesman of the North Carolina Mushroom Growers Association based in Brown Summit.

Chartered in 2006, the association’s membership comprises more than 70 family farms growing shiitake and other edible mushrooms to supplement income. The association’s mission includes promoting culinary and health benefits and providing educational and networking opportunities.

Enthusiasts note that once logs are inoculated, they can harvest in two to five years, and mushrooms face few pests. To find out more:

www.ag.ncat.edu/OmonMushroom/index.htm
www.ag.ncat.edu/omon/index.html
www.ncmushrooms.org