Mushroom output is up despite fewer growers
Teagasc mushroom adviser Gerry Walsh says you need to be selling at least 4,500 kgs (10,000 lb) of mushrooms a week to be viable and withstand economic and market shocks. Five years ago a weekly output of 2,250 kg was a viable level of production.
Nationally, the number of growers has declined from 576 in 1997 to 409 in 2001. But output increased to 68,000 tonnes of mushrooms in 2001, with a farmgate value of 130m, and employment totals more than 4,400 full-time equivalents, according to the Teagasc Census of Mushroom Production.
Monaghan leads the way with 122 production units, followed by Cavan with 58, Roscommon with 38 units, Mayo with 36 and Tipperary with 33. Significant production is also taking place in Donegal, Wexford, Kildare, Longford and Galway. Clare, Cork, Laois, Kilkenny, Limerick and Waterford all have less than five production units.
The census also shows that 20 Dutch shelf farms were established by the end of last year. With this new production system the compost is placed in steel shelves rather than in bags or blocks. This enables mechanical handling and significantly reduces labour requirements.
The capital cost of conversion to the new system is more than 100,000 and, says Gerry Walsh, growers need at least five mushroom tunnels before considering this investment. He revealed that the emergence of Polish mushrooms is a significant EU market feature. Labour costs only one-third those in Ireland and gives the Poles a significant marketing advantage.
The fact that Irish mushrooms have developed a high reputation in the major British supermarkets gives us a strong advantage in the current difficult marketing environment,” said Mr Walsh.
