As part of DA-RFO 1’s continuing effort to help farmers and aspiring agripreneurs to cope up with the fast-pacing product innovation of mushrooms in the market, a two-day training on mushroom production and processing was held in two batches at PREC, Sta. Barbara, Pangasinan on November 8-9, and 10-11, 2022.

Said training was participated by mushroom growers from the municipalities of Sta. Barbara, Malasiqui, Mapandan, and Urdaneta City.
Facilitated by Pangasinan Research and Experiment Center staff Ms. Karen Salvador, Ms. Timmy Manzon, and Ms. Noeline Ancheta, the farmers were able to process various mushroom by-products such as pickled mushroom, mushroom binagoongan, balls, mushroom patty, tapa, and kropek.

Speaking on behalf of PREC Center Chief Dr. Ma. Remedios Pajatin, Dr. Debbie Davalos, Farm Superintendent II, enumerated some potentials that can be explored with the mushroom business, stating that aside from its usual usage as food, mushroom can now be processed into soap, used in nutraceuticals as alternative medicine and food supplement.

“In order for us to become really successful, we need to explore all the possibilities in the mushroom industry. We need to be wise and study the best combination that can be done with our business” she said.

She likewise encouraged the participants to visit PREC anytime as they do not only offer assistance and technical learnings on mushroom but also services on livestock and other crops.

Prior to the processing, the training also covered a brief lecture on oyster mushroom production and a hands-on demonstration of mother culture production, grain and spawn, and fruiting bag production.

A field tour in a mushroom farm was also held today in Urdaneta City, Pangasinan for the participants to gain useful experience from other mushroom growers.