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HARRISBURG -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) will be conducting the annual Mushroom Inquiry to document the past growing year. All mushroom growers in Maryland and Pennsylvania will be contacted about growing area, production, and value of sales for the 2023-2024 season as well as growing intentions for the coming year.
"It is important that all mushroom growers participate in the inquiry so that accurate statistics are published," said Kevin Pautler, acting director of the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office. "Mushroom statistics are used to help support the industry in many ways and are evidence of the health and well-being of this important commodity."
Growers should receive a questionnaire by early July. Those who do not receive a questionnaire should contact the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at (800) 498-1518. Survey recipients can respond online at agcounts.usda.gov, by phone, or mail.
"We urge grower members to participate in this survey, here in Pennsylvania, in California, and across the country," said Rachel Roberts, president of the American Mushroom Institute. "American Mushroom uses the data from these reports to educate lawmakers and regulatory agencies about the significance of the mushroom industry on local, federal, and state economies, and help AMI reinforce the significant impact of mushroom businesses when advocating for policies that support the mushroom industry here in the Pennsylvania area and across the country."
The information provided by survey respondents will be used for statistical purposes only. In accordance with federal law, responses will be kept confidential and will not be disclosed in identifiable form.
The data will be published in the annual Mushrooms report to be released on Aug. 21, 2024. These and all NASS reports are available online at www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/. For more information, call the NASS Northeastern Regional Field Office at (800) 498-1518.