The button mushroom market is currently experiencing the usual summer slump. "Demand for button mushrooms is usually relatively low between Easter and August/September, so we adjust production accordingly to reflect the lower sales. However, compared to previous years, this year's summer slump is somewhat more pronounced," says Frank Goertz from Pilzhof Nettetal.
According to the mushroom expert, the situation becomes particularly critical when temperatures remain consistently high at 25 degrees Celsius or above: "This mainly affects the shelf life of mushrooms, especially the sensitive white button mushrooms. This is particularly noticeable at weekly markets, where the produce is displayed outside." However, this also affects mushroom cultivation itself, according to Goertz, who grows both button mushrooms and exotic mushrooms at his own farm. "The warmer it gets, the faster the cultivated mushrooms grow, which is rather disadvantageous in practice."
Frank Goertz has now reduced capacity at his mushroom farm by a third. In addition to the mushroom farm, Goertz also runs a cash & carry wholesale business specializing in mushrooms at Fresh Park Venlo called Go Champ.
Exotic mushrooms and chanterelles
With a share of around 90 percent of the total harvest volume, button mushrooms are the front-runner at the Pilzhof in Nettetal. These are supplemented by gourmet mushrooms such as oyster mushrooms, shiitake, and king oyster mushrooms. Goertz: "In the exotic category, oyster mushrooms still predominate, with shiitake and king oyster mushrooms roughly equal in volume, although the latter is gradually gaining in importance."
The family-run mushroom farm is considered a full-range supplier of mushrooms and currently also offers its customers in the neighborhood (approx. 50 km radius) wild mushrooms such as chanterelles. "Until now, the quantities available from the Balkan region have been quite limited, which has driven prices up accordingly. We received our first deliveries from Lithuania in calendar week 26 and hope that the market situation will normalize somewhat. However, chanterelles are unlikely to become cheaper this year," says Goertz, who only offers the wild mushrooms he buys in as a by-product.
Challenges in the mushroom sector
Button mushroom prices are still at around the same level as last year, although the market is slowly coming under pressure again. "I am convinced that energy and labor costs will continue to be the biggest cost drivers in the coming years. However, there are other challenges we are facing, such as peat substitutes and the PPWR packaging regulation. We now hope that there will soon be concrete prospects and solutions in this regard," concludes Goertz.
For more information:
Frank Goertz
Pilzhof Nettetal GmbH & Co. KG
Berg 17a
41334 Nettetal
Tel: +49 2153 971 778
[email protected]
www.pilzhof-nettetal.de
http://www.gochamp.nl/