HARRISBURG (PRNewswire) - Gov. Edward G. Rendell has proclaimed September "Mushroom Month" throughout the commonwealth.
The mushroom industry contributes more than $391 million to the state's economy, making Pennsylvania the leading
mushroom-producing state with more than 495 million pounds produced annually.
"The mushroom industry plays an important role in Pennsylvania agriculture and supplies a majority of the delicious food
enjoyed by people across the country," said Rendell. "Chester County has the distinction of being the 'Mushroom Capital
of the World,' as this is where mushroom farming began in the United States."
Chester is the leading mushroom producing county, and mushroom farms are also found in Armstrong, Berks, Chester,
Clearfield, Delaware and Lancaster counties.
Pennsylvania ranks first nationally in the production of agaricus mushrooms, the popular button variety most common
to consumers. The state is responsible for producing more than 59 percent of the nation's total crop.
The state grows a variety of other specialty mushrooms for fresh market and processing use, including shiitake, enoki
and oyster. The state's mushroom growers provide 55 percent of the nation's fresh market sales and 78 percent of the
mushrooms used in processing.
