Growing and Selling Mushrooms in the United States

Today, Americans are producing and eating record amounts of mushrooms. A golden period is emerging for Italian mushroom-producing companies

The number of consumers in America buying and eating mushrooms is consistently increasing. This isn't surprising considering that many more people than a few years ago are following plant-based diets for environmental, ethical, and health reasons. Mushrooms can also partially satisfy the need for meat due to their texture and are ideal for use in meal replacement recipes that make them seem much more than just a side dish.

The consumption of mushrooms in the United States hasn't yet reached its true peak, which is why companies in Italy need to take advantage of the moment to structure themselves and start selling in the American market: expanding the offer combined with consumers' experimental tendencies will ensure that this boom in mushroom consumption in America is long and fruitful.

Food brands have a great opportunity to capture U.S. consumers

Nearly a quarter of American consumers have tried vegetarian and vegan meat substitutes. 37% of those who don't consume plant-based foods in the United States are interested in trying them

The pandemic has been a strong accelerator of the trend of consuming vegan or vegetarian meals and both fresh and frozen vegetables:
 

• 47% of Americans consume more plant-based foods since the spread of Covid
   
• 43% eat less meat
   
• 25% have reduced or plan to eliminate dairy from their diet
   
• 23% have reduced egg consumption or plan to stop consuming them
   

A positive business scenario is therefore expected for the mushroom industry, along with an increase in production in many companies already active in the American market due to the growth of specialty mushroom sales (+20% in the U.S. alone).

Those who think mushrooms represent the future of food aren't entirely wrong. Even though the vast majority of mushrooms consumed in the United States are champignons, the expansion of offerings we're witnessing suggests that this vegetable will be served as more than just a simple garnish, and more frequently. They are, in fact, exceptionally versatile, tasty, and have a high nutritional value.

Italian mushroom producers can find a highly favorable market for production in the USA

The boom in cultivated mushrooms in the United States has led a Brooklyn startup to open hyper-technological facilities on the West Coast

The change in American consumers' eating habits has pushed small companies like Smallhold to expand production. This American startup has been very successful because it produces organic mushrooms and has filled a gap in the mushroom market: the company offers customers special varieties of mushrooms that are scarce in the market, and thanks to this insight, it now sells in 250 locations across ten states, also partnering with Amazon Fresh.

The technology that Smallhold uses is perfect for meeting the high demand for specialty mushrooms in America. Within the farms, there are incubator tubs with controlled humidity and temperature where mushrooms appear in just a few days thanks to UV rays that stimulate their growth. In no time, operators can harvest enormous quantities of merchandise to package and sell to restaurants and supermarkets.

Producing and Selling Mushrooms in the United States for the Food & Beverage, Fashion, and Cosmetics Sectors

The U.S. market is promising: American facilities already produce half a billion pounds of mushrooms a year, and there's potential to increase production by triple digits in a short time

The mushroom industry in the U.S. economy is thriving at a steady pace, so Italian companies in the sector looking to enter the American market can expect great things. The key is to adopt advanced cultivation technologies and have a production capacity capable of meeting the demand from American consumers, thus becoming significant players in the industry.

Let's not forget that this year mushrooms are also booming in the fashion and design industry and the beauty sector. With the non-edible parts of the mushroom, one can produce, among other things,

• Packaging;
• Sound-absorbing panels;
• Insulating panels;
• Vegan leather;
• Cosmetic products;
• Dietary supplements.

2022 will therefore be the year of mushrooms in America. Their versatility will ensure that new Italian companies in the United States can successfully operate not just in the food industry, but also in numerous rapidly growing sectors.