We just concluded our three-day Mushroom Harvesting and Organization Course at Fungus S.C. Bracia Marciniak Farm in Wioska, Poland on 3–5th February. The farm, which produces over 450 tonnes of mushrooms per month, offered a great learning environment with hundreds of workers, automated trolleys, and mushrooms at all stages of growth. Participants had the chance to explore the farm, learn practical skills, and discuss ways to improve harvesting operations.
The course was led by Andriy Gladkih, a harvesting and organization expert with over 22 years of experience working on large mushroom farms across Europe. Andriy shared valuable insights on how to motivate workers, manage mushrooms on the shelves, and harvest them for better quality while keeping costs low. We had a session on tools and technology—including robotics—and discussed implications for the future of harvesting. His practical approach made it easy for participants to connect what they learned in theory to real-life farm operations.
8Throughout the sessions, participants didn’t just learn from the trainers but also from each other. We had supervisors, managers, and farm owners attending, and it was interesting to see how open everyone was to discussing their farm challenges and finding solutions together. The Q&A sessions were particularly lively, with questions ranging from organization strategies to harvesting techniques.
Participants came from various countries and farming backgrounds, making the course an invaluable platform for knowledge exchange. One participant, Muhammad Abdelhai, shared his experience:
“Initially, I thought we were doing our best in harvesting, but after joining this course, I realized there are many aspects we still need to learn. The field of mushroom harvesting continuously evolves, and staying updated is essential for achieving better quality and quantity.”
Muhammad works at a sustainable farm in Sharjah, UAE, which has 18 growing rooms covering 530 square meters. He mentioned:
“We started with a daily production of 5 tonnes, but now, using the same area, we achieve up to 7 tonnes per day. We reuse everything from mushrooms within the farm to maintain sustainability.”
Mohhammed highly recommended the course to all harvesting personnel, including supervisors and harvesters. The information gained provides valuable insights for improving harvesting techniques.
Another participant, Paweł Młynkowiak, who has worked at Fungus S.C. Bracia Marciniak Farm for 25 years, shared his positive feedback:
“For the past 11 years, I have been involved in harvesting. I attended this course to learn something new, and I am very satisfied with the knowledge I gained. The trainers explained everything clearly, and I now have a better understanding of production processes.”
Paweł emphasized the importance of the course for others:
“I will gladly recommend this course so that everyone can participate and benefit from it.”
Kacper Szymański from Hadjuk Farm in Rostarzewo, Poland, said he came to learn how to improve harvesting and get better results from workers.
“I learned a lot, like motivating pickers, managing mushrooms on the shelves, and growing them better with lower costs,” he shared.
When asked if he would recommend the training, Kacper said:
“Yes, I would recommend it. You learn a lot and can also share knowledge with other farm owners. Learning is really important for moving forward in this business.”
We’re thankful to FUNGUS S.C., our hosts, everyone who attended, and our supporters for making the course successful. If you’re interested in future courses or need expert consultations for your farm, feel free to contact us on Facebook.
Check out some photos from the workshop!
