Bill Litvin, regional sales and national account manager for Giorgio Fresh Co., headquartered in Temple, PA, said that the company’s “D’Lightful” Portabella caps and Portabella sliced mushrooms provide 100 percent of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin D.

Bill Litvin“Vitamin D is an essential vitamin in our daily diet, allowing the body to absorb calcium to build and maintain strong bones,” said Mr. Litvin. “Giorgio’s ‘D’Lightful’ Portabella caps and Portabella sliced mushrooms are nutritious, naturally fat free, cholesterol free and they contain 100 percent of our daily value of vitamin D.”

Giorgio Fresh offers 6-ounce packages of both Portabella caps and Portabella sliced mushrooms.

Mr. Litvin noted that Giorgio’s Washed Sliced Baby Bella mushrooms are a convenient way for consumers to make this variety of mushroom part of any meal. The item is available in 8-ounce packages.

“Baby Bellas have the nutritional value and health benefits of other mushrooms, but their deeper, earthier flavor allows them to standout in a number of seasonal recipes, including the Cherry Portabella-Stuffed Pork Chops, which is on the Mushroom Council’s website [www.mushroomcouncil.com]. The Giorgio Fresh website [www.giorgiofoods.com] also provides consumers with a variety of recipes for Baby Bellas.”

Mr. Litvin pointed out that despite the uncertain economic times that the country is facing, data from the Mushroom Council shows an overall mushroom category sales growth of 3 percent on a year-to-year basis, while Baby Bella mushroom sales showed an 8 percent increase.

“In recent years, we have seen more and more consumers educating themselves and adapting to movements that focus on purchasing locally grown products, as well as the slow food movement, which focuses on a commitment to local food and the environment,” said Mr. Litvin. “The Mushroom Council is also currently promoting the mushroom Swapability campaign that aims to draw on mushroom’s reputation as a more healthful, less expensive option to meat.”

He added that by drawing more attention to the versatile uses of mushrooms online and at the store level, educated consumers that follow the slow food and local movements will be able to have pertinent nutritional information about the category when making their purchases.

“As reported by the Mushroom Council, there has been an overall mushroom category sales growth, which I feel will continue as more people become involved with the mushroom Swapability campaign and slow food movements,” said Mr. Litvin.

Washed and pre-sliced mushrooms have shown great sales strength for Giorgio Fresh.

“And they continue to show growth,” he said. “We have recently added washed pre-sliced Baby Bella mushrooms, and are offering the item to all of our customers.”