Mana Mushrooms

Dry weight comparisons between mushrooms and red meat favor mushrooms for protein content in many cases. Mushrooms are featured more and more often and with greater prominence as domestic markets awaken to the newest trend in super-foods. From the relative obscurity of Yoga magazine to Good Morning America (Nov 28, 2006), mushrooms are featured not only for their gourmet appeal, but for their nutritional and health benefits. Sustainable agriculture is another buzzword and for good reason: markets for protein sources reflect price changes correlating with increases in demand from increasing population and the strains of increased production on total arable land. As meat prices rise, substitutes are sought. Declining fish populations have seen significant, recent press coverage and several books.

Sustainable agriculture is an important tool to mitigate potentially disastrous effects of globalization. The existing $9 Billion / year market for mushrooms is likely to increase, particularly due to the efficiency of production of protein per square foot of cultivation area relative to alternatives. We do not rely on any increase in market prices in making our decisions. More immediately, USDA statistics show clear increases in the value and market size for various exotic mushrooms.