Gourmet mushrooms grown in a small village in Lancashire are to be sold in supermarkets across the UK.
The pink oyster mushrooms are grown by specialists Smithy Mushrooms, from Scarisbrick, who have been growing exotic varieties for 20 years.

"I don't think they'll ever replace white button mushrooms in popularity," said owner John Dorrian, "but I wish they would."

The mushrooms are set to be sold in 200 Tesco stores.
"Since celebrity chefs have started using mushrooms, they've really grown in popularity," added Mr Dorrian.

Oyster mushrooms are usually found on trees, and are grown in upright bags to imitate the natural environment in humid conditions on the four-acre site near Ormskirk.
Simon Mandelbaum, Tesco's mushroom buyer, said: "Not so long ago gourmet mushrooms were still the preserve of real foodies and could generally only be found in specialist shops.

"Over the last few years that has changed."
Oyster mushrooms originate from the tropics and have a mild, creamy flavour.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-14276142

25 July 2011

Scarisbrick gourmet mushrooms to be sold across the UK

Grower John Dorrian with pink mushrooms Grower John Dorrian says exotic mushrooms are increasing in popularity

Yellow and pink mushrooms hit the shelves as Tesco goes gourmet

Budding gourmet cooks will say goodbye to the humble old mushroom when a rockstar of the fungi world makes its debut at Tesco.

Oyster Mushrooms Tesco Debut: Brightly coloured Oyster mushrooms will go on sale at Tesco tomorrow (Pic: PA)
Yellow and pink oyster mushrooms grown locally in a small village in Lancashire are being shipped into the supermarket giant's grocery isles as the demand for gourmet produce increases.

The oyster 'shroom grows in clumps or clusters on dead tree trunks and is famed by many for it's subtle yet delicious flavours that vary depending on the different months of the year.

Hints of licorice are known to be present in some oyster mushrooms. They taste nothing like their seafaring namesake but are most commonly used in stir-frys.
Tesco's mushroom buyer Simon Mandelbaum said he hoped people would embrace the gourmet mushroom and use its unusual colouring to encourage children to eat vegetables.

'These mushrooms are so vividly coloured they literally stop people in their tracks and make them do a double-take,' he said.

'Parents will love them as they should add a lot of interest to mealtime for kids and help encourage them to eat their vegetables.
'Not so long ago gourmet mushrooms were still the preserve of real foodies and could generally only be found in specialist shops.

'Over the last few years that has changed and TV celebrity chefs such as Nigella Lawson, Gordon Ramsay and Marco Pierre White have featured them in their programmes and they have started to go mainstream.'

Oyster mushrooms have been found to contain significant levels of zinc, iron and potassium, calcium, phosphorus, vitamin C, folic acid, niacin, and vitamins B1 and B2.