Consumer demand for organic specialty mushrooms grows at Phillips Mushroom Farms
Consumer demand for organic specialty mushrooms grows at Phillips Mushroom Farms
Phillips Mushroom Farms has plenty of organic packs to meet consumers’ interests as they move up the value chain, searching for premium quality specialty mushrooms on store shelves.
The Kennett Square, PA-based grower-shipper will be featuring new organic items at the Organic Produce Summit, with an emphasis on specialty mushrooms.
New Organic Oyster packages and Organic Mushroom blends join the company’s organic lineup, with more than 20 stock-keeping units in the category — with more in the research, development and testing phases.
Phillips Mushroom Farms has been an OPS exhibitor since the show began in 2016, said Sean Steller, director of business development. Steller and Larissa Rice, national sales manager, will be at booth No. 318 to answer questions and talk about the full line of Phillips Mushroom Farms’ organic products.
The company’s 24-ounce Baby Bella Organic pack is a top-trending item, Steller said.
“This larger pack size provides flavor, value, quality and strong shelf life for a winning combination both on the shelf and on consumer’s tables,” he said.
New Organic Blend packs are primed to grab consumer interest.
“The six-ounce Organic Oyster Bloom will quickly become a fan favorite, featuring three different Oyster varieties, bright colors and great umami flavor,” Steller said.
Phillips Mushroom Farms is committed to helping retailers grow mushroom sales through quality, innovation, reliability and category expertise, he said.
“As one of the largest mushroom growers in North America and a pioneer in organic mushroom production, we offer retailers a complete mushroom category solution, including everyday White and Baby Bella mushrooms, to premium specialty varieties and value-added offerings,” Steller said. “We work closely with our customers to understand consumer trends, optimize assortments, improve merchandising and introduce innovative products that drive incremental sales.”
At OPS, the company is highlighting the continued growth opportunities with organic mushrooms and showcasing how a well-developed mushroom category can increase basket size, support healthy eating trends and provide consumers with versatile, sustainable food choices.
Steller said OPS is a prime opportunity to network, and representatives of Phillips Mushroom Farms see existing partners and newer members of the industry at the event.
Organic mushroom consumption continues to trend upward, with consumers frequently looking towards organic certification to indicate health and wellness, sustainability and clean-label foods, he said.
“We also see greater crossover between organic and specialty mushroom shoppers,” Steller said. “Consumers who seek organic products are often highly engaged with food and willing to experiment with new mushroom varieties, recipes and meal occasions.”
Phillips Mushroom Farms grows approximately 30 million pounds of organic mushrooms a year in southeastern Pennsylvania, an area recognized globally for its expertise in mushroom cultivation.
“The region offers a unique combination of infrastructure, skilled labor, growing knowledge and supply-chain advantages that have made it the ‘Mushroom Capital of the World,’” Steller said. “This allows us to provide a consistent, year-round supply of premium organic mushrooms to customers throughout North America.”
As consumer interest in the organic category and cooking with specialty mushrooms grows, Phillips Mushroom Farms continues to invest expanding organic specialty mushroom capacity. A current project will be completed this year to expand capacity, he said.
“This expansion will keep pace with consumer demand for new and innovative mushroom varieties, including our recently launched Organic Chestnut and Pioppini mushrooms,” Steller said.
