Stamets FeaturedEMagazine (.com) published an online commentary about PaulStamets on May 12. The article highlights Stamets work with mush-rooms as natural pesticides, his ideas on the similarities of variousnetworks, embedding seeds in cardboard boxes to encourage recy-cling, and his book Mycelium Running.

Jaleo Mushroom EventAccording to The Washington Times, the three Jaleo restaurants inthe Washington, DC. area created a mushroom festival in May.Besides featuring mushroom specials each day, the restaurantsbrought in Chef Llorenc Petras of Barcelona, Spain with his recipes.Petras spoke to visitors to the Penn Quarter Farmfresh Marketabout cooking with mushrooms. The event ended on May 18 witha wine dinner that paired Spanish mushroom dishes with Spanishwines. It would not be difficult to duplicate this kind of event in yourcommunity!

Crime on the FarmOn May 2, United States Attorney Patrick L. Meehan announced

the filing of an Information charging defendants Gil Castaneda-Cortez and Eliseo Betancourt with one count of aiding and abettingthe possession with intent to distribute 100 kilograms or more(reported in the newspapers as 1,000 pounds with a street value of$5 million) of marijuana. The charge arose from a sting operation inwhich Customs and Border Patrol inspectors and special agentsfrom the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement inter-cepted a tractor-trailer truck containing packaged bulk marijuana asit crossed the Mexico/U.S. border in Laredo, Texas. Agents drovethe truck near Reading, PA, where Betancourt helped unload themarijuana and kept watch over the marijuana while it was stored ata mushroom farm in Tulpehocken Township in a storage facilitywhere defendant Castaneda-Cortez lived.

Mushrooms on Tea WasteThe Chinese economy has been growing at an annual 10% rateover the last three years. According to Gunter Pauli as reported byXinhua News Agency, May 8, that rate of expansion can be main-tained by growing mushrooms on tea waste. Pauli has long pro-moted use of all wastes with his organization, the Zero EmissionsResearch and Initiative Foundation (ZERI). His point is that a lot ofvegetative material is wasted during the production process. If thatwaste can be returned to productive use, the economy will benefitwithout use of more natural resources. Pauli suggested that Chinaincorporate the notion of a recycling economy into its educationalsystem.

Namibia Node of ExcellenceAccording to All Africa Global Media, University of Namibia’s Unam’sResearch Center at Henties Bay has been designated as a region-al node of excellence for its work with mushrooms. The effort isassociated with New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)and the Zero Emissions Research and Initiative Foundation (ZERI).Research at the Center and at the Biology Department at the maincampus has focused on evaluating the suitability of locally availablesubstrates (particularly seaweed) for culture of Oyster Mushrooms.

Volume XV Number 2 • $4.00 • June 2006©2006 The Mushroom Company • P.O. Box 5065 • Klamath Falls, OR 97601 USA

™ISSN: 1092-9215

BITS AND PIECES

THIS MONTH• Bits and Pieces • Worker Verification •

• Canned Mushroom Exports from China •

Maitake in the U.S.Maitake production is so low in the U.S. that the NationalAgricultural Statistics Service (NASS) lumps it with ‘other’ mush-rooms. (i.e. anything except Agaricus, shiitake and oyster mush-rooms). This category produces considerably less than two tons perday in the U.S. In contrast, The Yukiguni Maitake farm that is pro-posed for construction in Mamakating, New York will have a capac-ity of around 33 tons per day. Their five farms in Japan have capac-ities ranging up to 120 tons per day. To give this another perspec-tive NASS says U.S. production of oyster mushrooms amounts toless than 7.5 tons per day and shiitake production amounts to lessthan 12.5 tons per day. What will Yukiguni do with all those mush-rooms? Will you be able to compete? Stay tuned.

Grants for Romanian MushroomsACT Media News reports, May 9, that increased funding for mush-room farms in Romania became available on April 11. 100,000euros are available under the SAPARD program (Special AccessionProgram for Agriculture and Rural Development). The program wasestablished in 1999 to provide financial assistance to countriesentering the European Union. It is limited to financing agricultureand rural development projects to help these countries, includingRomania, be on a solid competitive footing as they join the EU.According to the Romanian Information Center in Brussels, a total of150 million euros/year is available through the program at up to 2million euros per project. The funds are provided as grants. Thefunding will end when Romania enters the EU next January.

Australian Mushroom PromotionAccording to Hospitality, May 1, Peter Evans, chef for the HugoGroup of restaurants in Sydney is taking the lead in an effort by theAustralian mushroom industry to target the food service market.Evans is not only promoting Agaricus, but also pine mushrooms,shiitake, shemiji and oyster mushrooms. He also says he is close-ly watching the development of the morel industry in Tasmania. Percapita mushroom consumption in Australia is about double that inthe U.S.

China Dumping in AustraliaAccording to The Australian, May 17, Australian Customs is nowinvolved in Windsor Farm’s complaint that China has been dumpingcanned mushrooms on the Australian market. The agency foundthat the firm’s claims were justified and ordered a 20% duty, but nowhas been directed to re-investigate certain aspects of the case. TheWorld Trade Organization reports that over the last 6 months, 33countries have started dumping cases against China. China hasbeen accused of dumping more than any other country for the last11 years.

As additional facilities become available, research will be extendedto include: identification of indigenous mushroom species for cul-tivation at the coast and evaluation of different designs of low-cost mushroom houses.

Shiitake Meat SubstituteThe Gazette-Mail of Charleston, West Virginia, May 7, carried anarticle about mushrooms as a substitute for meat. The authorsreject portabella and point to shiitake as a better option. The arti-cle outlines the history of shiitake cultivation and offers cookingsuggestions. The otherwise good article ultimately goes off on atangent about the reason for ‘shiitake’ having two i’s. The sug-gestion is that this was a marketing move to make the term moredelicate to the English language. About two seconds of researchwould have revealed the relationship of the shii tree (Castanopsiscuspidata) to the mushroom that adopted its name. Apparentlythe authors didn’t bother to check, but report they “couldn’t findan authoritative answer anywhere.”

Omega MushroomsThe Bradenton Herald, Florida, May 14, carried an article aboutorganic farms in central Florida. Among them is OmegaMushrooms. May and C.L. Chang produce certified organic shi-itake on their 12 acre farm. They’ve been in operation since 1995and ship their product to restaurants and grocery stores on theeast coast. The Changs say they “follow a recipe of mixingChinese tradition, Japanese know-how and American engineer-ing and science.” The report says there were 10,000 blocks inthe first of several greenhouses at the farm. Omega’s websitecan found at:

www.omegamushrooms.com

Elm Oyster for your FaceEssence Magazine, May 1, highlights three mushroom-based beau-ty products being promoted by Dr. Andrew Weil for Origins NaturalResources. Weil is the director of the program in IntegrativeMedicine at the University of Arizona. The products are “PlantidoteMega-Mushroom Supplement,” “Plantidote Mega-Mushroom FaceSerum” and “Plantidote Mega-Mushroom Face Cream.” Weilreports the face serum contains Hypsizygus ulmarius withCordyceps and reishi mushrooms, ginger, turmeric, holy basil,resveratrol and argan nut oil. More info: www.origins.com andwww.drweil.com.

Arctic MushroomsThe April issue of Ecology includes a study of the relationshipbetween mushrooms and nitrogen transfer to plants in the Arctic.The study quantified the well-know process of nitrogen transfer fromsymbiotic mushrooms to their plant hosts and highlighted the impor-tance of fungi in Arctic regions.

Farmers’ Market Notes• Mushroom Cap will be a new vender at the Kennett Square,

Pennsylvania market.• Bruno Pretto of Fun Guy Mushrooms is selling mushrooms

at the Riverdale Farm Farmers’ market in Toronto, Canada.• Dave and Dee Scheer of Dave and Dee’s Homegrown

Mushrooms drives 91 miles from Franklin, Virginia to the17th Street Farmers’ Market in Richmond every Thursday.Overall they travel 600 to 800 miles per week deliveringtheir oyster mushrooms. They are considering raising theirprices to offset rising gasoline prices

• Solano Mushrooms presented their exotic array at the St.Helena and Napa Downtown Farmers’ Markets.

Reishi for AllergiesThe Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, May 1, reprinted anarticle from The Nutrition Practitioner Journal entitled “The Use ofGanoderma lucidum (Reishi) in the management of histamine-medi-ated allergic responses.” While the article takes a scientific tone, itlacks real substance. Most of the article recounts the history of reishias a medicinal and outlines some of the past research on the mush-room. The new information amounts to two case studies of hayfever sufferers who reported general abatement of symptoms afterstarting to take a reishi supplement. A male adult was given six 500mg tablets per day and a five-year-old male was given two 500 mgtablets per day. The form of the reishi (water extract, dried myceli-um, ground fruit etc.) was not revealed. The success of the treat-ment was based upon interviews of the patients who knew they weretaking a reishi supplement. The experiment was uncontrolled. Theconclusion provided by the author is accurate: “Ganoderma supple-mentation may have a role to play in the management of histamine-induced immune responses.” From a scientific standpoint, the reportoffers a potential area for serious study. From a marketing stand-point, the report amounts to a pair of solicited testimonials. If yousuffer from hay fever, it wouldn’t hurt to try a reishi supplement - itmight work for you.

Perchlorate MysteryThe Gilroy (California) Dispatch reported on May 4, that water boardofficials there found that they lack sufficient information to claim thatperchlorate contamination in northeast Morgan Hill is caused by OlinCorporation’s former road flare manufacturing operation. Likewisethey are unable to tie the contamination to the use of chlorine onmushroom farms, treatment of municipal water wells or natural caus-es.

Immigrant Policy MarchesMarches in support of immigrant workers in the U.S. occurred acrossthe country on Monday, May 1. Many mushroom farms employ his-panic immigrant workers and were affected. According to VenturaCountry Star, the United Farm Workers Union made an arrangementwith California Mushroom that allowed their workers to have the dayoff in exchange for working extra hours over the weekend.According to the Tallahassee Democrat, Sylvan’s Quincy mushroomfarm made a similar arrangement for its workers. According to thePhiladelphia Inquirer, there was no picking at many Kennett Squaremushroom farms. Apparently only 8 of 120 workers at PietroIndustries showed up for work. According to vice presidentChristopher Alonzo, that firm lost between $10,000 and $20,000 asa result.

SPSS Software Helps MontereyAccording to a press release from SPSS Inc, the firm is providingMonterey Mushrooms with software that allows them to closely trackkey business parameters including revenues and margins.Monterey’s Senior Programmer/Analyst Andrew Burnham is quotedas saying: “Because of SPSS, we’re able to see our data as we’venever seen it before. We’re able to view it from different angles andperspectives. That allows us to better analyze our margin of prof-itability and highlight exceptions quickly, which, in turn, allows us tomake better business decisions.

Worker Verification

The Reading (Pennsylvania) Eagle reported on May 7 that MarkGaspari of Gino Gaspari and Sons mushrooms found out one of his

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 2 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

employees was an illegal immigrant when the employee advised ajudge of that fact when he was making arrangements to pay a finethrough a payment plan. Typically these workers are not proud ofbeing illegal, but very proud of being working. Thus, this worker washappy to provide the judge with evidence that he was working. Thearticle noted that, after reviewing his personnel file, Gaspari con-cluded the man would have to be fired. Employers, like ChristopherDeGrucci, general manager of Monterey’s Temple farm, carefullycheck potential employee’s credentials, but aren’t required to verifysocial security numbers. Other growers are suspected of supplyingfalse Social Security numbers to illegal workers.

According to the Dickinson School of Law at Pennsylvania StateUniversity, an employer subject to the Immigration Reform andControl Act of 1986 must do six things:

1. Obtain a copy of the individual's Social Security number, ifthe individual has been issued a Social Security Number, oran authorization number established by the Immigrationand Naturalization Service.

2. Have employees complete part 1 of the employment eligi-bility verification form, known as form I-9.

3. Check documents, submitted by the employee, that estab-lish the employee's identity and eligibility to work in theUnited States Employees state their citizenship status inthese documents. Identification Accepted: United StatesPassport, Resident Alien Card, or other documentationauthorized by the Attorney General.

4. Complete the employer's portion of form I-9.5.Retain the completed form for at least 3 years or 1 year more

than the employee's period of employment, whichever islonger.

6. Present the filed form I-9 to an officer of the Department of

Labor or the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS,now Citizenship and Immigration Services Bureau) who ismaking an inspection.

If you properly complete a Form I-9 and it is later discovered thatyour employee is not actually authorized to work, you cannot becharged with a verification violation; however, you cannot knowinglycontinue to employ this individual. That’s why Gaspari was forced tofire the employee mentioned above. If you do the same, you willhave a good faith defense against the imposition of employer sanc-tions penalties for knowingly hiring an unauthorized alien unless thegovernment can prove you had actual knowledge of the unautho-rized status of the employee. Thus, if you provide an employee witha Social Security number, you can get in big trouble. The penalty fordocument fraud is a civil penalty of $275 to $2200 for each fraudu-lent document for the first offense and $2200 to $5500 for subse-quent offenses (8 CFR 270.3).

You must examine the documents provided by your potentialemployee and, if they reasonably appear on their face to be genuineand to relate to the person presenting them, you must accept them.To do otherwise could be an unfair immigration-related employmentpractice. If a document does not reasonably appear on its face to begenuine and to relate to the person presenting it, you must notaccept it.

Naturally, we can’t provide legal advice, but perhaps this article willinduce you to get further information and the required forms at thewebsite of the Homeland Security Department’s Citizenship andImmigration Services Bureau (formerly Immigration andNaturalization Service) at www.uscis.gov. You may wish to contactyour attorney for more advice.

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 3 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

Source:China General Administration ofCustoms as reported in XinhuaEconomic News, May 11, 2006

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 4 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 5 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

About Wholesale Market Prices: Except for truffles the prices listed here were reported by the Agricultural MarketingService, Fruit and Vegetable Division of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. These prices were seen at the terminal markets in thelisted cities and are typically the prices retail or food service outlets pay to brokers or distributors at those markets. If you sell highquality product directly to retail outlets in these cities your prices should be higher. If you sell to a broker or distributor who sells atthese markets, your prices will be lower. This information should be used only as a guide and an indicator of the relative stability ofprices from week to week.

TRUFFLESNorth Carolina Black $500.00/lb

Oregon White $100.00/lbOregon Grey $165.00/lb

(farm price - typical - varies by season)

1.25-1.45

1.15-1.25

1.15-1.40

1.10-1.15

1.75-2.00

1.40-1.60

4.50-5.33

3.67-4.33

-

-

2.67-3.33

3.20-3.60

-

-

-

8.00

8.00

3.62-4.19

1.40-1.50

1.30-1.58

-

-

2.70-2.80

-

-

-

4.00-4.20

-

-

3.60-4.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

U.S. WHOLESALE MARKET PRICESChicago • Dallas • Miami • New York • San Francisco

1.40-1.50

1.30-1.58

-

-

2.70-2.80

-

-

-

4.00-4.20

-

-

3.60-4.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

AGARICLargeMediumSmall#2

PortabellaCrimini

SHIITAKEJumboLargeMediumSmall#2

OYSTERPorcieniCHANT-ERELLEMorelHedgehogMaitakeENOKI

AGARICLargeMediumSmall#2

PortabellaCrimini

SHIITAKEJumboLargeMediumSmall#2

OYSTERPorcieniCHANT-ERELLEMorelHedgehogMaitakeENOKI

Week of May 22

Chi Dal Mia NY SF

Week of May 1 Week of May 8 Week of May 15

Chi Dal Mia NY SF Chi Dal Mia NY SF Chi Dal Mia NY SF$ Per

Pound

$ PerPound

1.40-1.50

1.20-1.30

1.10-1.40

-

2.00

1.35-1.55

-

-

4.20

-

3.00-3.20

3.00-3.20

-

-

-

-

-

1.40-1.45

1.20-1.40

1.32-1.42

-

1.80-2.00

-

-

-

4.50-4.83

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.25-1.45

1.15-1.25

1.15-1.40

1.10-1.15

1.75-2.00

1.40-1.60

4.50-5.33

3.67-4.33

-

-

2.67-3.33

3.20-3.60

-

-

-

8.00

8.00

3.62-4.19

1.40-1.50

1.30-1.58

-

-

2.70-2.80

-

-

-

4.00-4.20

-

-

3.60-4.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.40-1.50

1.20-1.30

1.10-1.40

-

2.00

1.35-1.55

-

-

4.20

-

3.00-3.20

3.00-3.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.20-1.40

1.15-1.25

1.15-1.40

1.10-1.15

1.75-2.00

1.40-1.60

4.50-5.33

3.67-4.33

-

-

2.67-3.33

3.20-3.60

-

-

-

-

-

3.62-4.19

1.80-1.85

1.35-1.55

1.45-1.55

1.10-1.15

2.25-2.50

1.80-1.85

5.50

3.10-3.30

2.75-3.00

-

2.40-2.50

-

35.00

18.50 B

33.00

-

-

2.97-3.43

1.40-1.50

1.20-1.30

1.10-1.40

-

2.00

1.35-1.55

-

-

4.20

-

3.00-3.20

3.00-3.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.40-1.45

1.20-1.35

1.32-1.42

-

1.80-2.00

-

-

-

4.50-4.83

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.40-1.50

1.20-1.30

1.10-1.40

-

2.00

1.35-1.55

-

-

4.20

-

3.00-3.20

3.00-3.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.25-1.45

1.15-1.25

1.15-1.40

1.10-1.15

1.75-2.00

1.40-1.60

4.50-5.33

3.67-4.33

-

-

2.67-3.33

3.20-3.60

-

-

-

-

-

3.62-4.19

1.80-1.85

1.35-1.55

1.45-1.55

1.10-1.15

2.25-2.50

1.80-1.85

5.50

3.10-3.30

2.75-3.00

-

2.40-2.50

-

24.00

18.50-19

B

-

-

-

2.97-3.43

Montreal, CAN - 15May06Agaricus (5 lbs): 1.98

Toronto, CAN - 15May06Agaricus (5 lbs): 1.62-1.80

Portabella (5 lbs): 2.35-2.53Crimini (5 lbs): 1.62-1.80Shiitake (3 lbs): 4.51-6.62Oyster (2 lbs): 4.09-4.96

Paris, FR 18May06Shiitake (1 kg): 4.05-4.63Oyster (1 kg): 1.74-2.02

Agaricus Med (1 kg): 1.01-1.10Agaricus Lrg (1 kg): 1.10-1.22

Morels (1 kg): 17.35-20.24

Monterrey, MX 22May06Agaricus (1 kg): 1.22

Guadalajara, MX 22May06Agaricus (1kg): 1.13-1.15

Poznan, POL 15May06Agaricus (1 kg): 0.51-0.58

Oyster (1kg): 1.43-1.46

SPECIESAgaric = Agaricus bisporusShiitake = Lentinula edodes

Oyster = Pleurotus spp.Enoki = Flammulina velutipes

Lobster = Hypomyces lactifluorumMorel = Morchella spp.

Hedgehog = Hydnum repandumPorcieni = Boletus edulis

Woodear = Auricularia spp.Maitake = Grifola frondosa

Shimeji = Hypsizygus tessulatus

ChanterellesCantharellus cibarius (Y) or

Craterellus cornucopiodes (B) orCantharellus subalbidus (W)

WORLD SPOT PRICESPer Pound - U.S. Dollars

(Packaged as Indicated)

1.80-1.85

1.35-1.55

1.45-1.55

1.10-1.15

2.25-2.50

1.80-1.85

5.50

3.10-3.30

2.75-3.00

-

2.40-2.50

-

-

16.50 B

18.50 Y

28.50-29

18.50

-

2.97-3.43

1.80-1.85

1.35-1.55

1.45-1.55

1.10-1.15

2.25-2.50

1.80-1.85

5.50

3.10-3.30

2.75-3.00

-

2.40-2.50

-

35.00

18.50 B

33.00

-

-

2.97-3.43

1.40-1.45

1.20-1.40

1.32-1.42

-

1.80-2.00

-

-

-

4.50-4.83

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.40-1.45

1.20-1.40

1.32-1.42

-

1.80-2.00

-

-

-

4.50-4.83

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1.40-1.50

1.30-1.58

-

-

2.70-2.80

-

-

-

4.00-4.20

-

-

3.60-4.20

-

-

-

-

-

-

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 6 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 7 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

FOR SALEAmsco Autoclaves (2)

24 x 36 x 48 chamber sizeAll Monel/Stainless

Steam jacketed for even heatWill sell individually or together

Amsco Environmental ChamberWalk-through

Approx. 6'W x 8'L x 7'HAll Stainless modular construction

Double door/double wall-rigid foam insulatedSelf-draining sump with removable grates

Perfect for bulk pasteurization orThe ultimate indestructible walk-in cooler

For Details: Call 1-541-326-7724

or email: lloydrjensen@gmail.com

RetirementSale

• 12' autoclave - $6,500• tubeless vertical boiler - $2,200• numerous laboratory accessories

List provided upon request.

Contact Richard atrwk999@msn.comTel. 863-559-4322

Can deliver throughoutSoutheastern U.S.

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 8 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 9 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 10 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

WKH, LLCP.O. Box 461119, Garland, TX 75042(214) 929-8955, (800) 797-2247 or (888) 888-0811

CERTIFIED ORGANICby EURO and USDA agencies

Extracts of the following mycelium

- Cordyceps sinensis- Agaricus Blazei - several strains- Coriolus versicolor- Lentinus edodes- Ganoderma Lucidum- Populinum- Tremella Fusiformis- Hericium erinaceus- Grifola Frondosa- Poria Cocus- Polyporus Umbellatus- Pleurotus Ostreatus

and other mycelium of your choice.

HART ENVIRONMENTAL, INC.

Humidification for Mushroom Growers

Complete humidification using Ultimix™ FoggingNozzle Technology. These cool-fogging nozzleswith non-drip valves can humidify to 100% rH.Each Ultimix™ assembly can be supplied to fityour requirements. Simple to install. Saves energy.

• Low Pressure - No Pumps• Small Drops - Complete Evaporation• Flexible Fogging - Regulate for Wet or Dry• Less Feathering, Cracking and Discoloration• Precise Humidity Control

Phone: (570) 476-5588Fax (570) 422-1060E-mail: hartenv@ptd.netWeb: www.hartenv.com

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The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 11 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

WANTED• Cypress

• Mushroom Wood• Hemlock

or • Other Woods

From Mushroom Houses

Must be 1/2" or thicker.

Please call1-888-261-4284

The Mushroom Growers’ Newsletter 12 Volume XV Number 2 June 2006

Printed on Recycled Paper

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P.O. Box 461119, Garland, TX 75046

Telephone: 972-272-2588 or 1-800-888-0811 in the US and CanadaFax: 972-272-8883 Web: www.unicornbags.com

The Mushroom Growers’ NewsletterP.O. Box 5065Klamath Falls, OR 97601USA

FIRST CLASS

www.MushroomCompany.com

Now Available: Cotton Seed Hulls on pallets or in truck loads.