U.S. Department of Agriculture Designates September National Mushroom Month

September 5, 2019 American Mushroom Institute

By Proclamation, signed by Agriculture Secretary Sonny Purdue, mushrooms are recognized for their “nutritional value and other outstanding attributes.” The Proclamation also encourages “greater appreciation and use of mushrooms.”

Statement From American Mushroom Institute on the 2019 USDA National Agriculture Statistics Service (NASS) Mushroom Report

“There was a wholesale change in the way in which NASS collected and reported its data this year, making it impossible to compare the 2019 figures with previous years, and impossible to extract the analysis and conclusions we’ve long relied on the NASS for,” said
AMI President Rachel Roberts.

Mushroom Growers Facing Rising Costs

U.S. mushroom growers are facing rising costs due to climate volatility, continued labor issues, changes in consumer preferences, transportation expenses, and more, just as the industry is preparing for its busy fall holiday season when mushroom demand increases 30%-40%, according to the American Mushroom Institute.

US Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue Visits Mushroom Capital of the World

Mushroom farmers and their communities rolled out the red carpet today to host the U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue, who sat down with mushroom industry leaders and other agricultural sectors to discuss issues affecting their operations, American Mushroom Institute (AMI) announced today.

Mushroom Industry is Economic Engine Across U.S.

The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of the Mushroom Industry report shows the U.S. mushroom industry has an economic impact of $3.1 billion, through sales of mushrooms, supplies and other indirect spending. The report coincides with National Agriculture Day designed in part to highlight the significant role agriculture plays in maintaining a strong economy.