July 30 2007, 13:51

Expensive straw may stimulate price growth for champignon and oyster mushroom

""Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" weekly" has already informed, the prices for cultivated mushrooms (champignon and oyster mushroom) occupy a very high level now as a consequence of the noticeable demand exceed over supply. Many small and medium mushroom farms traditionally stop production in summer; however, they plan to gradually enter the markets again in September. At the same time, to the opinion of many specialists of mushroom market, the growth of mushroom supply in autumn may not lead to the significant decrease of the wholesale prices for mushroom. They say, the price growth for straw is observed on market now, so that the production growth for mushroom may considerably increase in Ukraine.

One more reason to support the prices for champignon and oyster mushroom in a long-term perspective is the price growth for fodder. This factor is able to result in the significantly increased prices for meat as soon as next year; meat is mushroom competitor in the consumption structure. Though the consumption of cultivated mushrooms is relatively low per capita in Ukraine, this figure will dynamically grow in the coming years, according to evaluations of "Agrooglyad: Vegetables and Fruits" analysts.