Mushroom producers from New Zealand and Australia convened in Auckland to address challenges facing the diminishing industry. The gathering, consisting of approximately 175 delegates from Australasia and international experts, spanned four days, focusing on various topics such as composting, automation in harvesting, and strategies for sector expansion.
Geoff Martin, the conference chairman, highlighted that New Zealand produces 250 tonnes of white and brown mushrooms weekly, with Australia contributing an additional 1200 tonnes. He noted the industry's shift towards fewer operators and increased technological adoption, stating, "All mushrooms these days are actually grown indoors; very carefully, climate-controlled and very definitive temperature ranges that you can grow the mushrooms in." Martin also acknowledged the hurdles of high input and energy costs, labor challenges, and the necessity of achieving satisfactory farm gate returns.
The industry has seen a consolidation, with New Zealand's commercial mushroom farms decreasing from 13 to about three and Australia's from 100 to 42 since their last joint conference in 2001. Wendy Hubbard, consumer insights manager for Horticulture Innovation Australia, addressed the issue of declining sales of common white and brown mushrooms, emphasizing the importance of understanding consumer preferences to stimulate sector growth. She suggested targeting "light buyers" and families with simple usage tips and family-friendly recipes to increase mushroom consumption.
The conference concluded with a site visit to Meadow Mushrooms, a fully integrated commercial producer, marking the end of the event aimed at fostering a revival in the mushroom sector across New Zealand and Australia.
Source: The Country