Recently, the mushroom cultivation data collected and published by the Hungarian National Chamber of Agriculture and the Agricultural Research Institute. Accordingly, mushroom industry had successful year in Europe and Hungary as well. According to statistics, the United Kingdom (106,000 tonnes) was the largest importer of mushrooms in the world in 2017, followed by Germany (72,000 tonnes) and the United States (50,000 tonnes). Worldwide, the most significant exporter was Poland and the Netherlands. In the case of white button mushroom (Agaricus), the Netherlands, Spain and Poland have the highest cultivation potential. EU mortgage trade and foreign trade balance is positive. Poland is the main supplier of the third countries, a major exporter Lithuania and the Netherlands also. In 2017, Poland exported several mushroom to third countries more than a year earlier. The largest quantity was sold to Belarus. In Ukraine 50,000 tons of mushrooms were cultivated in 2017, 90 percent of this was white button mushroom. The country’s mushroom exports rose more than thirteen times to 530 tonnes in 2017 compared to 2016. Russia will begin construction of a mushroom-growing complex in St Petersburg’s region this year, which is expected to end in 2019. The investment has two large parts: a 40,000 tons of annual compost plant and a 10,000 tons mushroom cultivation facility. According to the European Commission’s figures, the net producer price of Agaricus fell from 1.94 to 1.77 per kilogram in average in the Member States in September 2018 compared to the same month of the previous year. The producer price of mushroom in Poland was lowest (EUR 1.14 / kg), while Ireland was the highest (EUR 2.82 / kg).
Hungary
In Hungary, the most significant cultivated mushroom species is white button muhroom and oyster mushroom. Quality Hungarian mushrooms are also high on demand abroad, and the current production would double on the export market, but serious technological developments are needed – says Chamber of Agriculutre. The Hungarian mushroom production has increased steadily in recent years: according to data from the 18,000 tonnes in 2008, the volume of mushrooms cultivated in 2017 was 32.7 thousand tons, of which 29.5 thousand tons of Agaricus, 3 thousand tons of oyster mushroom, nearly 60 percent of them are exported. The other cultivated mushrooms (eg shiitake) are 200 tonnes. 75 percent of the marketed mushroom is fresh, 25 percent canned. Hungary’s foreign trade balance has been positive in recent years, in 2017 it has sold 8.29 thousand tons of Agaricus mushroom to foreign markets, compared to 290 tons of imports. In Hungary 18-20 major and about 250 smaller mushroom producers are registered, the industry employs about 4500 people. Mushrooms are grown in closed-growing plants, mushroom-growing houses, tents, and in small part in cellars. Most mushrooms are grown in Pest, Heves and Bács-Kiskun counties, most white button mushroom export to Austria and Romania. Old, traditional production area Budafok-Budatétény and Kőbánya, where the old cellars are suitable for mushroom growing, as well as Győr and Eger. In the domestic market, the big hat, dark color oyster mushrooms is the favorite, Kecskemét is the largest production site. Hungarian mushrooms have a great demand abroad, domestic production meets domestic demand, but because of export demand it could be increased to multiple times, which requires significant improvements. In this area, development projects have started under the Rural Development Program but at the same time it is preferable for the more farms to adapt to plant cultivation, which yields much higher yields for growing cellars, but of course requires serious investment. The high mineral and vitamin content (for example, the only plant vitamin D source), valuable proteins and fatty acids in the mushroom, was looking for autumn in the winter, although it is worth adding to the diet for another period of the year. It is a pity that many people peel the mushrooms, losing valuable nutrients and minerals. The cultivated mushrooms should be thoroughly washed under running water. Mushrooms can be used to replace meat nutrients to some extent, and we can import important amino acids into our body that are not found in vegetables. The glucose content is extremely low and can be used by diabetics. Additionally, mushrooms are easy to fit into a diet, as it has a weight-loss effect, is rich in diet fiber, and has a very low calorie content: 100 g of white button mushroom contains only 39 calories, while the oyster mushroom only 33, and the carbohydrate content is insignificant.
Marketing, promotion, prices
The importance of health consciousness and healthy lifestyle has been the seventh year of GoPink! promotion. In connection with the fight against breast cancer, Bio-Fungi Kft. packs the white button and oyster mushrooms in pink trays in October to support the healing and recovery of the affected patients. In Budapest, the wholesale prices of mushrooms increased in the first forty-one weeks of 2018 compared to the previous year white button mushroom were 6 percent higher, 485 forints / kilogram, and the oyster mushroom were offered 1 percent higher, at 630 HUF / kg. In the wholesale market in Vienna, Hungary and Poland were included in the supply of mushrooms in the 40th week of 2018: EUR / kg, EUR 1.84-2.47 / kg in Poland. The full market report of the Agricultural Research Institute can be downloaded from HERE.
