Hengxian Button Mushrooms

Hengxian Button Mushrooms

　　Button mushrooms, commonly known as mushrooms or white mushrooms, are the most widely cultivated, highest-yielding, and most consumed edible fungi in the world, accounting for about 70% of all edible fungi production. China is one of the leading producers of mushrooms, ranking second globally in output after the United States. Mushroom products are also among China’s top exports in the edible fungi category. Hengxian is also one of Guangxi’s top counties for mushroom exports. As the largest county in Guangxi’s primary mushroom industry, it cultivates mushrooms on an annual area of 15.25 million square meters. In 2013, it was honored by the national government as the “Hometown of Button Mushrooms.” The mushrooms are tender, delicious, and nutritious — a healthy food high in protein and low in fat. Regular consumption can help lower blood lipids and blood pressure, improve digestion, and boost the body’s immune function. The optimal temperature range for mushroom mycelium growth is 4–32°C, with the most suitable range being 23–26°C. The ideal temperature for fruiting body development is 14–18°C. Based on the ecological requirements for mushroom growth and the climate characteristics of Guangxi, only one crop per year could typically be cultivated under natural conditions. However, with advances in technology, mushroom cultivation methods have continuously improved — from the original simple “A-frame shed” model to the “greenhouse mushroom” model and “flat-shed mushroom” model with secondary fermentation, and in recent years to the “factory-based mushroom” model under artificially controlled ecological conditions. This allows up to six crops per year, enabling year-round production and propelling the mushroom industry forward. Guangxi Jisheng Food Co., Ltd. has adopted a “company + cooperative + base + farmer” model and established a factory-based mushroom production base in Chaonan Village, Yunbiao Town, Hengxian. A single crop covers an area of over 40,000 square meters, yielding 30 kilograms per square meter and producing 7,200 tons annually, with annual profits exceeding 30 million yuan. The mushroom factory employs over 100 local farmers, providing an average annual income of around 20,000 yuan per worker and significantly boosting local rural incomes.