After a recent mushroom harvesting course, UMDIS visited Fruit Logistica, where we met József Rácz from Korona Mushroom Union, one of Hungary’s leading mushroom producers. Founded in 1990 by Rácz’s father, Korona has grown into a successful family-run business. “Together with my two brothers and our father, we manage the company,” Rácz shared.
Korona produces an impressive 250 to 300 tons of mushrooms per week, focusing primarily on white and brown champignons. The company oversees the entire production chain, from substrate preparation to mushroom cultivation. They also grow smaller quantities of exotic mushrooms like shiitake and oyster, while trading in shimeji mushrooms. “We trade shimeji mushrooms, but only as a reseller,” Rácz.
To meet changing market demands, Korona has started developing new products. This includes innovative packaging, mixing mushroom varieties, and combining cultivated mushrooms with wild mushrooms. They also operate a canning factory, which processes surplus or lower-quality mushrooms, ensuring stability in their production chain.
When discussing the mushroom market in Hungary, Rácz expressed optimism. “There’s demand for mushrooms, so we’re positive about the future,” he said. Korona remains largely self-sufficient, rarely relying on imports. “Sometimes we have to buy mushrooms, and sometimes we sell to other growers, but usually, we’re independent”.
The possibility of importing exotic mushroom substrates from Ukraine also came up. Rácz mentioned that decisions would depend on quality and price. “If we can find a good price combined with good quality, then why not?” he remarked.
Hungary’s mushroom consumption has been steadily increasing. While in 2020, the annual per capita consumption was 1 kilogram per person, this has now risen to 1.5 to 1.6 kilograms per person. However, this is still below UK’s 4 kilograms.
Korona’s cooperative-like structure allows them to work with smaller growers while maintaining high production levels and a diverse product portfolio. Their operations cover everything from mushroom growing and compost production to canning and spawn production. As one of Hungary’s most significant players in the mushroom industry, Korona continues to blend tradition with a focus on innovation and growth.
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