The Black Trumpet Mushroom Market
DOWNLOADOctober 31, 2004 - William A Knudson
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Black Trumpet mushrooms are a specialty mushroom that is sold primarily as a dried product. For the most part they are imported or harvested wild. Black Trumpet mushrooms are found under deciduous trees in the Northeast and Midwest. Their flavor is highly valued and can be used for a variety of purposes including sauces, steak, soups and wild game dishes.
The primary market for Black Trumpet Mushrooms is specialty retail or high end food service. The price of these mushrooms at the retail level is quite high. Earthy Delights, a restaurant supply firm, sells them for $25 a pound (http://earthy.com/a_dried_mushroom.htm); Mushroom Heaven sells a 4 oz. package for $16 (http://www.gmushrooms.com/GmNet/DreidBT.htm). Both of these prices are for the dried product. Farm level prices would undoubtedly be much lower.
This paper will assess the market for mushrooms in general and the market for specialty mushrooms in particular. Given the highly specialized nature of the Black Trumpet mushroom market, an in-depth analysis of that particular market is not possible. However, there does seem to be a great deal of potential for specialty mushroom
production.
