containers of specialty mushrooms displayed at farmers market

Specialty Mushrooms

Project Lead: Connor Youngerman, Yolanda Gonzalez

Our project offers the leading extension resource for specialty mushroom cultivation on small farms in the United States.

Specialty mushrooms are defined by USDA as any species not belonging to the genus Agaricus (button, crimini, portabella). The most common specialty mushrooms produced are Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) and Oyster (Pleuterous ostreatus). Scroll down for our library of resources to help you grow better!

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Kacey Deamer / Cornell Small Farms Program

Demand for specialty mushrooms is rapidly rising, as consumers look to purchase more foods that are healthy, nutritious, and medicinal. There are methods to grow mushrooms outdoor systems on logs, stumps, and in beds, as well as indoor production techniques that can occur in a wide range of spaces on straw, sawdust, and other agricultural materials.

For urban growers, mushrooms offer a high value niche crop that can be grown in small spaces. For rural growers, the farm woodlot can be better utilized and healthy forests maintained while procuring materials for production.

Building a viable mushroom enterprise requires learning two skills; technical production and business planning. We help you develop both to meet your goals for production through factsheets and articles, guidebooks, videos, and opportunities to connect with other growers, industry suppliers, and more.

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Mushroom Resources

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Events

Events

Today

  • Fungi, Forage, & Forest

    Niagra County Fair Grounds 4487 Lake Ave, Lockport, NY, United States

    Join the Beginning Farmer Training Program for Fungi, Forage & Forest, a two-day agroforestry event focused on mushroom cultivation, wild edible plants, and agroforestry practices. This educational event will feature presenters and educators from the Cornell Vegetable Program, Niagara County Master Gardeners, and the Cornell Small Farms Program. Designed for farmers looking to diversify their […]

  • Agroforestry: An Introduction to American Ginseng Cultivation

    In association with Khuba International, join Tracey Testo, CCE Columbia-Greene Agroforestry Educator, for an informative evening focused on cultivating American ginseng. This webinar will cover essential topics including ginseng botany, site selection, planting techniques, harvesting practices, marketing strategies, and an overview of current regulations. Designed for individuals exploring alternative forest-based income opportunities, as well as […]

  • Shiitake Mushroom Log Yard Management Workshop

    Hawk Meadow Farm 5066 Mott Evans Rd., Trumansburg, NY, United States

    In this workshop, we will cover the basics of shiitake mushroom log yard management in a natural woodland setting. These production techniques result in the best quality shiitake that can be produced. These principles can be applied to many other wood-decomposing mushrooms, including Lion’s Mane and Oyster. Workshop objectives: Discuss tree species selection, sourcing supplies […]

News and Updates

  • Small Farms Radio Shines a Spotlight on the Power of Trees

    by

    Kacey Deamer

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    If you’re selling 25 million trees, New York State is looking to buy. In 2024, Governor Kathy Hochul began an ambitious reforestation goal, aiming to plant 25 million new trees in the state before 2033. While the effort has been supported by policymakers, conservationists, researchers, and agriculturalists, a key issue remained — what kind of…

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  • The Future of Small Farming is Fungi

    by

    Rich Mattingly

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    In October, Hawk Meadow Farm near Ithaca, NY, hosted a hands-on shiitake cultivation workshop, sponsored by the Cornell Small Farms Program, drawing a diverse group of gardeners, homesteaders, and farmers from traditionally underserved communities, eager to learn the art of growing shiitake mushrooms from logs. The workshop blended ecological philosophy and historical context with practical…

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  • The Science of DIY Mushroom Substrates

    by

    Connor Youngerman

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    What our research has revealed about growing specialty mushrooms indoors on different materials. Mushroom cultivation is an art as much as a science, and for many growers, it starts with a simple ready-to-fruit block. When folks are just starting indoor mushroom production, we often recommend getting a few ready to fruit mushroom blocks. These are…

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  • Listing of Log Suppliers

    by

    Erica Frenay

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    Name: Russell Freeman e-mail: freemantrees75@gmail.com Phone Number: 518-945-8101 Preferred Method of Contact (Select all that apply): Text, Email City, State: Hannacroix, NY Business Name (if applicable): Freemantrees Type of Operation: Arborist I can offer: Logs for pick-up, Logs delivered If you can offer delivery, to what distance from your location? (miles): 50 miles What species…

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  • Shiitake Mushroom Cultivation Workshop

    by

    Nina Saeli

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      TRUMANSBURG, N.Y. — Nineteen participants gathered at Hawk Meadow Farm for a hands-on workshop on outdoor shiitake mushroom cultivation, learning techniques for growing mushrooms on logs in a natural woodland setting. Led by Steve and Anne Sierigk, Connor Youngerman, and María José Oviedo Ventura, the workshop covered essential aspects of log-based mushroom production, including…

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See the full archive from Cornell Mushrooms

Project Partners

The Cornell Small Farms Program, with support from USDA-NIFA and USDA-SARE and alongside partners CCE Harvest NY, Fungi Ally, Farm School NYC, Just Food, and GrowNYC are engaged in a multi-year project to elevate and support diverse mushroom growers in the Northeast region. We are here to help! See our resources at this website, and get in touch.

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About Connor Youngerman

As the Agroforestry and Mushroom Specialist, Connor applies his skills and experience toward climate resiliency outreach for new, established, and historically excluded farmers. His particular interests lie in advancing research and education for agroforestry and tree nursery management, medicinal agroforestry crops, and novel mushroom substrates. He believes these areas hold huge potential to diversify the ecological and economic portfolio of small-scale farmers.

Read Articles by Connor Youngerman

containers of specialty mushrooms displayed at farmers market

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This list-serve provides information and resources to connect small and mid-sized farmers to larger markets such as food hubs, grocery stores, restaurants, online marketplaces and cooperatives. Farmers, educators and prospective buyers are all welcome:

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