Tony and Joe D’Amico prepare for their presentation on the mushroom growing process! Image Courtesy: Dottie Foley Photography
This past weekend food bloggers descended upon Philadelphia for Eat, Write, Retreat 2013, a jam packed weekend of learning, laughing, networking and, of course, delicious food. As a sponsor for the second year in a row, The Mushroom Council hosted a one hour educational session bringing to life the process of growing mushrooms. Alongside, Tony and Joe D’Amico, the brothers behind family-owned To-Jo Mushrooms, bloggers got a firsthand view of LIVE mushroom growing beds and took home a bit of the fun for themselves with Back to the Roots Mushroom Growing Kits.
With all of the lively food and mushroom conversations captured at Eat, Write, Retreat, we couldn’t resist sharing the wealth. Along with a Facebook album capturing all of the mushroom growing beds and a Pinterest board filled with highlights, we wanted to share a bit of the knowledge we gained from our dedicated Mushroom Council farmers.
Mushroom Growing Fun Facts
- Unlike other forms of produce, mushrooms don’t grow from a seed, but a spore.
- The optimal temperature for storing mushrooms is 35 degrees. At home, keep them wrapped in their tills or in a loosely sealed brown paper bag until use.
- It’s a 16-18 week process to create the rich compost used in growing mushrooms, and the compost is pasturized prior to growth to ensure a safe, clean growing environment.
- Crimini and portabellas are grown from the same spore, but harvested at different times.
For a more detailed look, check out our infographic on the mushroom growing process.
The final announcement at Eat, Write, and Retreat launched an exciting opportunity for all of our fungi fans. Our official “Swap It or Top It” summer recipe contest launched with much excitement and you’re invited to participate! Enter your recipe for a chance to win a prize up to $5,000. From reinventing the turkey burger with mushroom blendablity, to creating a MyPlate burger with the five food groups, the possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
Start brainstorming and enter today!
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