Pingyu Edible Fungi

Pingyu Edible Fungi

　　Pingyu edible fungi are a specialty of Pingyu County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province. The cultivation of edible fungi in Pingyu County has maintained rapid development momentum, gradually demonstrating the scale effect of small individual operations with large-scale collaboration.

　　In 1981, Pingyu County began introducing edible fungi technology. After years of research and exploration, technicians successively cultivated more than 10 varieties, including oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms, enoki mushrooms, button mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms, and trained over 1,200 technical backbone personnel in edible fungi production. In 2000, the three main varieties with the largest production scale were oyster mushrooms, button mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms. With Zhangmiao Village in Donghuangmiao Township as the production base and technical training center, efforts were made to guide the development of edible fungi cultivation across all 18 townships in the county. In March 2000, the Pingyu County Edible Fungi Production Base Construction Office was established. Based on demand information provided by the China Edible Fungi Association and Pingyu County’s geographical advantages, the office planned the construction of the edible fungi production base, focusing on Donghuangmiao Township, Guhuai Town, and Shizilu Township, while extending influence to other townships (and towns) in the county. That year, the county produced 200,000 bags of oyster mushrooms, 450 bags of bagged shiitake mushrooms, and 250,000 square meters of button mushrooms, initially forming a high-quality shiitake mushroom trading market centered around Donghuangmiao Township. Both rural finances and the majority of mushroom farmers achieved good economic benefits.