What are the prospects for deep processing of edible fungi? My view

In China's agriculture, edible fungi rank only after crop farming and livestock farming, and are called the "third agriculture." As their value in domestic and international markets continues to rise, some regions have already listed them as a "vegetable basket project" or a project for foreign-exchange-earning agriculture and "rural poverty alleviation and prosperity." Implementing deep processing of edible fungi helps realize greater value from edible fungi and further increase farmers' income. The reasons are:

First, preservation and storage help extend the product sales period. Fresh shiitake mushrooms and button mushrooms just on the market sell for 8-10 yuan per kg, with the high end reaching 12 yuan, while enoki mushrooms and straw mushrooms reach as high as 15-20 yuan per kg and are very much in demand. If, while selling them fresh, the surplus edible fungi are given preservation treatment, made into dried products through primary processing, and deep-processed into canned goods, mushroom meat floss, soup bases and other series products, then not only are their freshness and original color, aroma and taste retained, but people can also taste the unique delicious flavor of edible fungi in all four seasons of the year.

Second, comprehensive development helps increase the added value of products. Today, in addition to developing and producing series foods such as canned shiitake mushrooms, shiitake candied fruit, shiitake beverages and shiitake instant meals, some production enterprises at home and abroad have also researched and developed medical and health products such as shiitake polysaccharide capsules, shiitake oral liquid, silver ear polysaccharide and lion's mane mushroom polysaccharide. This expands the practical value of edible fungi and turns the former single primary-processed dried product into high-grade, high-benefit series products.

Third, forming a brand helps capture the international market. Authoritative figures in the industry suggest that production enterprises, on the basis of their existing export brands, increase the scientific and technological content of their products and develop series of new products with excellent quality to meet the different consumer demands of the international market.