The United States is one of the world's most valuable mushroom-producing nations, ranking among the top five globally by production value despite producing a far smaller volume than China. The USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) publishes an annual Mushroom Industry report providing detailed production, sales, price, and farm operation data for the U.S. commercial mushroom industry. This page compiles key statistics from the USDA NASS Mushroom Industry Report (most recent: 2023–2024 marketing season), supplemented by data from the American Mushroom Institute, the USDA Economic Research Service, and the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service. It provides researchers, growers, policymakers, and industry analysts with a reliable reference for U.S. mushroom production statistics through 2026.
National Production Totals
U.S. commercial mushroom production totaled approximately 1.06 billion pounds in the 2023–2024 marketing season (August 2023 through July 2024), according to the USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service. This represents a slight increase from the prior year's production of approximately 1.03 billion pounds.
— USDA NASS, Mushroom Industry Report, 2024The total value of U.S. mushroom sales reached $1.23 billion in 2023–2024, a 3.2% increase from the prior marketing year. The average value per pound across all varieties was approximately $1.16, reflecting the blend of lower-value commodity varieties and higher-value specialty species.
— USDA NASS, Mushroom Industry Report, 2024U.S. mushroom production has grown by approximately 35% in volume and 62% in value over the past decade (2013–2023), driven by both growth in specialty mushroom categories and incremental gains in commodity production efficiency.
— USDA NASS historical data, 2024The USDA has tracked U.S. mushroom production since 1960. Annual production in 1960 was approximately 72 million pounds, meaning domestic commercial output has grown roughly 15-fold over 60+ years.
— USDA NASS, historical Mushroom Industry ReportsFarm Operations & Structure
The USDA Mushroom Industry survey covered 938 mushroom farm operations in 2023–2024. The total number of commercial operations has declined modestly from a peak of over 1,200 farms in the early 2000s, reflecting industry consolidation as larger, vertically integrated farms have captured an increasing share of production.
— USDA NASS, Mushroom Industry Report, 2024The U.S. mushroom industry is highly concentrated. The ten largest producing operations account for a disproportionate share of total national output, while hundreds of smaller specialty and organic farms serve local and regional markets at premium price points.
— American Mushroom Institute, 2024Labor is the largest operating cost for U.S. mushroom farms, representing 35–50% of total production costs. Most large commercial facilities operate year-round in climate-controlled environments, employing workers for substrate preparation, inoculation, harvesting, packaging, and distribution.
— American Mushroom Institute, 2024The USDA reports that the majority of large commercial mushroom farms are located in the Mid-Atlantic and Mid-South regions, where proximity to major population centers and established compost infrastructure support the Agaricus bisporus industry concentrated in Pennsylvania and surrounding states.
— USDA NASS, 2024Top Producing States
Pennsylvania is by far the nation's leading mushroom-producing state, accounting for approximately 60% of total U.S. commercial mushroom production by both volume and value. The Kennett Square, Pennsylvania area is known as the "Mushroom Capital of the World," with a cluster of farms producing primarily white button, cremini, and portobello mushrooms in the region for over 100 years.
— USDA NASS, 2024; American Mushroom InstituteCalifornia is the second-largest mushroom-producing state, with significant specialty mushroom production including shiitake, oyster, and king trumpet varieties in the Watsonville and Santa Cruz County areas. California's proximity to Asian-American consumer markets supports strong demand for specialty species.
— USDA NASS, 2024Florida is an increasingly significant mushroom production state, particularly for oyster and specialty varieties suited to subtropical growing conditions. Florida's production has grown substantially in the past decade alongside the state's expanding foodservice and tourism markets.
— USDA NASS, 2024Oregon and Washington are growing centers for specialty mushrooms, including chanterelles (wild-harvested) and a range of cultivated gourmet and medicinal species. Oregon's progressive regulatory environment for functional mushroom products has additionally attracted investment in specialty cultivation operations.
— USDA NASS, 2024Species & Variety Breakdown
White button, cremini (baby bella), and portobello mushrooms — all varieties of Agaricus bisporus — collectively account for approximately 65% of total U.S. commercial mushroom production by volume. These varieties are primarily grown in climate-controlled houses on composted substrate and have well-established industrial supply chains.
— USDA NASS, Mushroom Industry Report, 2024Shiitake production totaled approximately 10.2 million pounds in the 2023–2024 season, accounting for roughly 1% of total production volume but a significantly higher share of value due to premium retail pricing of $6–$12 per pound wholesale.
— USDA NASS, 2024Oyster mushroom production has grown substantially in the United States, totaling approximately 8.5 million pounds in 2023–2024. Oysters are the preferred specialty mushroom for smaller operations due to low substrate costs and rapid production cycles.
— USDA NASS, 2024Lion's mane is the fastest-growing specialty mushroom category in U.S. commercial production. Production volumes are not separately tracked in USDA data but are estimated at 2–4 million pounds annually and growing rapidly year-over-year as consumer demand and functional mushroom supplement demand accelerate.
— American Mushroom Institute estimates, 2024Pricing & Market Values
The average grower price for all U.S. mushrooms was approximately $1.10 per pound in 2023–2024, reflecting the blend of commodity white button prices ($0.80–$1.00/lb at farm gate) and specialty mushroom prices ($4–$12/lb at farm gate for shiitake, oyster, and lion's mane).
— USDA NASS, Mushroom Industry Report, 2024Retail prices for specialty mushrooms in U.S. supermarkets typically range from $8–$15 per pound for shiitake and oyster varieties, and $18–$30 per pound for lion's mane and maitake. These retail premiums support the economic viability of smaller specialty mushroom operations.
— American Mushroom Institute retail price survey, 2024Organic mushroom production commands an additional 15–40% price premium over conventionally produced mushrooms at the retail level. Organic certification is increasingly pursued by U.S. specialty mushroom producers targeting natural grocery and health food retail channels.
— USDA Agricultural Marketing Service, 2024Sales Channels & Distribution
Foodservice (restaurants, hotels, institutional food service) accounts for approximately 55% of all commercial mushroom sales in the United States. Retail supermarkets account for the remaining 45%, though retail's share has grown incrementally since the pandemic as home cooking interest has sustained.
— American Mushroom Institute, 2024Large commodity mushroom producers sell primarily through national broadline distributors (Sysco, US Foods) to foodservice accounts. Specialty mushroom producers sell through a more diverse channel mix including direct-to-retailer, farmers markets, online DTC, and regional specialty distributors.
— American Mushroom Institute, 2024Processed mushroom products (canned, dried, frozen) account for approximately 18% of domestic mushroom sales by volume. Canned mushrooms are largely imported from China and South Korea, while domestic processors focus primarily on higher-value dried and frozen specialty products.
— USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 2024; AMI, 2024Imports, Exports & Trade
The United States imported approximately $147 million worth of mushrooms in 2023, primarily dried shiitake and canned mushrooms from China, South Korea, and the Netherlands. Import volumes are large relative to domestic production of processed varieties, reflecting the cost advantage of Asian suppliers for dried and canned formats.
— USDA Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS), 2024U.S. mushroom exports totaled approximately $38 million in 2023, with Canada representing the primary export destination. Fresh specialty mushrooms represent the majority of export value, with Canada's proximity and shared language making it the natural primary market for U.S. specialty growers.
— USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 2024The U.S. is a net importer of mushroom products overall, with import value exceeding export value by approximately $109 million in 2023. This trade deficit is primarily driven by processed and dried mushroom categories rather than fresh mushrooms, where domestic producers remain competitive.
— USDA FAS, 2024Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the U.S. produce in mushrooms each year?
U.S. commercial mushroom production totaled approximately 1.06 billion pounds valued at $1.23 billion in the 2023–2024 marketing season, according to the USDA NASS Mushroom Industry Report. Production has grown roughly 35% by volume over the past decade. The USDA marketing season runs from August through July each year.
Which state produces the most mushrooms in the U.S.?
Pennsylvania is by far the leading mushroom-producing state, accounting for approximately 60% of total U.S. commercial production by both volume and value. The Kennett Square, Pennsylvania area has been the center of U.S. mushroom production for over 100 years and is known as the "Mushroom Capital of the World." California, Florida, Michigan, and Oregon are the other significant producing states.
How many mushroom farms are there in the United States?
The USDA NASS surveyed 938 commercial mushroom farm operations in the 2023–2024 season. This number has declined from a peak of over 1,200 farms in the early 2000s due to industry consolidation, though the number of smaller specialty operations serving local markets has grown as consumer demand for gourmet and functional varieties has increased.
What types of mushrooms are grown commercially in the U.S.?
White button, cremini, and portobello mushrooms (all Agaricus bisporus varieties) collectively account for approximately 65% of U.S. commercial production by volume. Shiitake (~10.2 million lbs), oyster (~8.5 million lbs), and lion's mane are the primary specialty varieties. The specialty mushroom category is growing significantly faster than commodity production, driven by rising retail premiums and consumer interest in functional varieties.
Does the U.S. import or export more mushrooms?
The United States is a net importer of mushroom products. In 2023, the U.S. imported approximately $147 million in mushrooms (primarily dried and canned from China and South Korea) while exporting approximately $38 million (primarily fresh specialty mushrooms to Canada), resulting in a net trade deficit of roughly $109 million. The import-export imbalance is concentrated in processed varieties; fresh domestic production remains competitive in the U.S. market.
Sources: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS), Mushroom Industry Report 2024; American Mushroom Institute 2024; USDA Economic Research Service 2024; USDA Foreign Agricultural Service 2024; USDA Agricultural Marketing Service 2024; USDA NASS historical Mushroom Industry Reports (2013–2024); Grand View Research 2025; Mordor Intelligence 2025.