Pennsylvania Gardening & Farming: Pennsylvania produces more mushrooms than any other state

Pennsylvania produces roughly 55% of the Nation’s crop of fresh mushrooms every year and 78% of those used in processing.  The revenue from button mushrooms is close to $250 million and that doesn’t include the more valuable selection of portabellas, shittakes, and oyster mushrooms.  Amazingly, mushrooms add close to $391 million to Pennsylvania’s economy – with Chester County being the highest producer and garnering the designation as the mushroom capital of the world.  Interestingly, mushroom farms are also a major contributor to composting.  Each year, a half million tons of mulch hay, poultry manure, and other farming byproducts are used as bedding medium for mushrooms.  Article Link, Other Sources.