Transforming Small Mushrooms into Thriving Industry in Shandong’s Feixian County

LINYI, China, Dec. 10, 2024 /Xinhua-AsiaNet/–

Recently, the Yanminghu Village Edible Mushroom Cultivation Base in Liangqiu Town, Feixian County, Shandong Province has been buzzing with activity. Rows of black fungus cultivation sticks are neatly arranged, while Hu Xiaotian, the base manager, leads mushroom farmers in packing and organizing shipments. “We use honeysuckle branches as the raw material for our mushroom sticks,” Hu explained, holding a well-cultivated black fungus stick. “These mushrooms are rich in organic matter content and are highly popular among consumers.”

Yanminghu Village Edible Mushroom Cultivation Base in Liangqiu Town, Feixian County, Shandong

“Our cultivation cycle for black fungus officially begins in mid-November each year. So far, we have cultivated around 40,000 bags of black fungus sticks, and the cultivation period will continue until February next year,” Hu said.

At present, Yanminghu Village in Feixian County has developed a robust industrial structure centered on black fungus, alongside a diverse range of specialty and rare edible mushrooms such as ganoderma, matsutake, and morel. The base produces 35 tons of mushrooms annually, generating an output value of 2.1 million yuan.

To drive the industrialization of black fungus, the base has established collaborative partnership with the Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences to set up a “Agricultural Science Expert Station.” The station is dedicated to conducting innovative trials, including the selection of oyster mushroom varieties, research on large ball-headed mushrooms, and secondary soil covering experiments for enoki mushrooms. Through the introduction of new mushroom varieties, the development of advanced cultivation substrates, and technical training in mushroom cultivation, the base has fostered a team of skilled, passionate local experts. The base has also registered the “Gushengyuan” trademark, successfully applied for the “Linyi City Yangtze River Delta Core Urban Agricultural Product Supply Base” designation, and received recognition as a demonstration site within the National Edible Mushroom Industry Technology System’s Taian Experiment Station. These achievements have significantly enhanced the base’s brand influence.

Edible mushroom industry symbolizes Feixian County’s broader efforts to develop distinctive, high-quality agricultural products. In recent years, Feixian County has harnessed its local resources and advantages to cultivate a variety of premium agricultural goods. Brands specializing in hawthorn, tomatoes, zucchini, and other products have steadily increased their market share, reflecting the county’s substantial progress toward high-quality agricultural development.