According to Kevin Donovan, national sales manager for Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA, organic mushroom sales are really gaining ground, and the company has seen continued strong growth throughout the first half of this year.

“The increase has been continual for more than a year,” said Donovan. “And it’s in actual consumer usage, not just retailers thinking they should have more organics. When retailers increase their organic offerings with the right selections of products, however, sales automatically increase. We’re seeing both consumer consumption increases as well as retail sales increases, boiling it down to a win-win for everyone.”

He also pointed out that people in general are looking at organics as being good for their bodies as well as for the earth. And when consumers ride the waves of movements like sustainability and nutrition, the trends take off and grow strongly.

In keeping pace with the growing demand, Phillips Mushrooms has expanded its organic packing facility and it plans to increase its production of organic mushrooms in the future.

Although pricing between organics and conventional produce is leveling off somewhat as organic production increases, Donovan explained that it’s a little different in the mushroom category.

“We continually focus on increasing our organic production as much as possible,” he said. “But the cost for organic mushrooms is higher because at times we have to shorten the crop due to production challenges. These challenges are more treatable with conventional mushrooms, such as with the use of fertilizers and pesticides, but they cannot be used on organics because of the certification criteria.”

Donovan also explained that the company composts the hay it uses for the growing medium for its organic mushroom production, which renders it within the organic criteria. The company is certified organic by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which has become a leading global organic certification standard since its inception over a decade ago.

Although Phillips Mushrooms produces numerous organic mushroom varieties, Donovan said that the strongest growth is in whites and Baby Bellas.

“We also offer Portobellos in both whole and sliced options, Maitake, Beech, Royal Trumpet and Pom Pom mushrooms in our organic line,” added Donovan.

As organics became better known throughout the years, retailers began feeling the category needed a presence in their produce departments. They bought what they felt they had to in order have it.

“That’s not the case today,” Donovan pointed out. “Organics are here to stay, and entire sections are now dedicated just to organics.”