When people think “pink” today, many think breast cancer research. The mushroom industry’s participation in October helps to fund the City of Hope hospital system in breast cancer research.

Spearheaded by the Mushroom Council, the campaign is supported by leading mushroom producers that pack mushrooms in pink tills and/or labels.

Phillips Mushroom Farms in Kennett Square, PA, is on the campaign bandwagon again this year. National Sales Manager, Kevin Donovan, told The Produce News that the company would be packing in pink during October.

Phillips Mushroom Farms’ Portabella Mushroom Caps.“Response to the campaign has remained very strong since it began several years ago,” said Donovan. “It garnered quick approval by consumers who continue to support it today.”

He noted that Phillips Mushroom continues to find interest in the Mushroom Council’s The Blend campaign, which promotes replacing a portion of meat protein with chopped mushrooms.

“The council has done a great job of communicating the message to industry professionals, culinary colleges and other groups about The Blend,” said Donovan. “Foodservice operators are now embracing it, in some cases to offer a healthier burger on their menus. And we’re seeing its use in universities increase continually as young people are highly attuned to nutrition today.

“Produce professionals at the retail level would benefit from the campaign if their nutritionists helped to promote it through flyers and recipe pads available in their produce departments,” he continued. “Once consumers become educated about the nutritional benefits and reduced fat there’s little doubt that The Blend would gain strength at the retail level.”

Traditional white button mushrooms continue to lead the market today, but Donovan said Baby Bellas and other browns continually increase in sales.

“The large Portabella caps continue to be popular, especially in the summer because people like to grill them,” he said. “We offer a couple of pack sizes to accommodate consumers.”

Mushroom prices have remained stable over the past few years, but Donovan said that there has been some tightening in the market during winter months. Summer prices are more stable.

The price of growing medium continues to be a challenge for mushroom producers.

“Many farmers have switched their crops from hay and straw to meal grains because the prices have gone up,” explain Donovan. “That has resulted in shortages of medium, and forces us to truck it in from greater distances. The fuel costs to move it across country drives production costs higher.”

The company has now started its third expansion of its Warwick, MD, facility,Donovan said. “We expect it to be completed by early next year. This expansion will increase the size of the facility by over 30 percent.”

The demand for organic mushrooms continues to grow.

“Some retailers used to stock organic mushrooms because they felt they needed them to look complete,” explained Donovan. “Today they need them because they’re selling. White mushrooms are also leading the way in the organic category.”