Mushroom Growers' Survey, 2020

Released: 2021-06-23

Mushroom growers sold 146,154 short tons of mushrooms in 2020, up 0.4% compared with 2019 and the fifth consecutive annual increase, mainly due to higher yields and exports.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic was reflected by the shift in sales from fresh to processed mushrooms. The amount of mushrooms processed rose a record 4,368 short tons to 12,726 short tons in 2020 (+52.3%), with most of the sales occurring at the beginning of the pandemic. Conversely, with most restaurants either closed or offering limited in-person dining for much of the year, fresh mushroom sales declined 3,846 short tons from 2019 to 133,428 short tons (-2.8%).

The closure of restaurants for in-person dining at the start of the pandemic prompted some mushroom growers to destroy their crops, while others reduced capacity as they accumulated a surplus of unsold mushrooms. Despite the initial shock of the pandemic, mushroom growers adapted to the new reality and production kept pace with demand.

While cultivated (-1.4%) and harvested (-2.8%) area both decreased in 2020, better yields contributed to higher production. Yields have been rising since 2016 due to better growing mediums, such as enriched sawdust and nutrient-rich soil.

The total value of mushrooms sold rose 5.1% to $619.7 million in 2020, due to higher prices for both fresh and processed mushrooms.

Canada exported 62,452 short tons of Agaricus mushrooms in 2020, up 10.5% from a year earlier, with the vast majority destined for the United States (99.2%).

Chart 1 
Mushroom production in Canada, 2011 to 2020

Contact information

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