Tokyo-Booming demand for Eringi mushrooms is expected to boost Hokuto Corporation's pretax profit 31% to Y7.6 billion for the year through March 2002, The Nihon Keizai Shimbun reported the leading mushroom producer forecasts. The company previously projected a Y7.3 billion pretax profit for the current term. Sales will likely rise 17% to Y30.6 billion, up Y600 million from the previous estimate. The Nagano Prefecture-based firm plans to increase Eringi mushroom output by 600 tons from the planned 5,400 tons. The booming demand for Eringi mushrooms, especially from female consumers, was triggered by a study released last autumn by a team of researchers at Shinshu University, which claimed the mushroom is effective in reducing cholesterol. The company also expects sales of its mainstay Bunashimeji mushrooms to fare well. Net profit will likely increase 39% to Y4.35 billion. Stalker not having heard of Eringi before checked out a culinary website for a recipe – on it they were described as "a big ass mushroom". Could this claim be made for the any of the popular varieties grown here in Ireland?
