Fresh Mushroom Love in Philly

Did you know that 60% of mushrooms in the U.S. are grown in Pennsylvania?  I thought it sounded like an exaggerated statistic myself, until I was at my local coop buying some mushrooms earlier this week.  Other than a few cartons from super-local Wakarusa Valley Farm, every single mushroom was marked "Pennsylvania".

As part of my trip with Philly Homegrown, we got to tour Mother Earth Organic Mushrooms, which supplies to Whole Foods and Amy's Kitchen (they use the leftover stems in their mushroom soup), among other retailers.

Everything starts with compost, known in this context as "mushroom food".  And, at least at the beginning of the fifteen week growing process, that compost is, literally, hot stuff.  Tim, the farmer who showed us around, opened a door to one of the rooms where the compost was cooking away--all I can say is it was so hot it almost knocked me over and it smelled like...um...poo.

But from that compost, comes deliciousness.  Have you ever tasted a just picked mushroom?  If you ever get the chance you have to--it's like someone took the smell of beautiful, rich black soil in the springtime and made it into a food.  I didn't think I liked raw mushrooms much.  It turns out I just need to find a way to grow my own.

Ever so gradually, the compost is seeded and up come the wee 'shroomies.  At the farm we saw, Mother Earth grows Portabellas, Creminis (which are just baby Portabellas), and White Button Mushrooms.  (And truly, when they're that fresh, even the buttons have that amazing earthy flavor.)

After touring the farm, I enjoyed some mushrooms for lunch (a mushroom spread and mushroom risotto) at Talula's Table (home of the getting-close-to-perfected Rosemary Latte) in Kennett Square (the hub of the mushroom growing region).

Then we visited the Kennett Square Farmer's Market, where just looking at the mushrooms is a treat!

For today's giveaway, I have some dried mushrooms from Kennett Square.  To win, answer the following question:  Are you a fan of mushrooms?

The winner will be randomly picked Saturday morning.

And the winner is Megan!

(And P.S., since this is my last Philadelphia post [back to babes and chicks and gardens next week], I want to give a big thanks to Donna and Caroline and Alethia and Marisa, all of Philly Homegrown, for having me out.  Thanks for a fabulous time, ladies!)

Comments

[Sarah]

I love mushrooms! It hasn't always been that way, once upon a time I thought they were disgusting, but they're so fun to cook with!

[Megan]

Oh yum. I'm seriously drooling over this post. Who knew something so delicious could come from poo?

[Giacovetti]

I love mushrooms, and can I say how much I thoroughly enjoy your reports from my fine city and region!

[Meryl]

It is a fine city!  Lucky you to get to enjoy all the markets all the time!