Diversify products from edible mushrooms

Not only selling fresh mushrooms, Ms. Nguyen Viet Van Anh, in Phung Hiep district, also boldly invested in a deep processing line to help increase the value of mushrooms and bring her hometown products to the world .

The project to build a model for applying scientific and technological advances to diversify processing products from edible mushrooms with high economic value is showing effectiveness in many aspects.

Graduated with a Master's degree in Food Technology, instead of choosing to work at large companies or corporations to stabilize her economy like her peers, Ms. Nguyen Viet Van Anh made a bold decision to return to her hometown in Tan Long commune, Phung Hiep district and established Bao Hoang Gia General Company Limited, Hau Giang Branch, to develop the economy in her hometown.

One of the marks that recognized Ms. Van Anh's efforts was the second prize in the Hau Giang Province Startup Competition in 2023. That success motivated her to be even more determined for her goal. In 2024, Ms. Van Anh embarked on the Project "Building a model of applying scientific and technological advances to diversify processing products from edible mushrooms with high economic value in Hau Giang Province". Recently, this project was also selected in the top 15 projects/ideas to participate in the final round of the Hau Giang Province Women's Startup Competition in 2024, which will take place on June 24.

Ms. Nguyen Viet Van Anh said that in Vietnam, developing mushroom cultivation has many meanings, not only effectively utilizing agricultural waste, clearing fields, freeing up land for new crops, but also contributing to solving employment for a large labor force in rural areas of many ages. At the same time, the mushroom industry creates many accompanying services such as supplying straw, producing mushroom spawn, purchasing, processing, etc.

“This job does not require much investment capital like other crops, but mainly uses straw, sawdust and labor (accounting for about 70-80% of the product cost), and has a quick return on investment (20-30 days to have products to harvest). This is also a particularly meaningful direction for people with little land for cultivation ,” Ms. Van Anh expressed.

The unit's oyster mushroom products achieved 3-star OCOP at the district level in 2023.

According to Ms. Van, the unit has been focusing on investing in equipment and technology to diversify products from edible mushrooms (oyster mushrooms, straw mushrooms) and medicinal mushrooms (Cordyceps, Cloud Mushrooms)... Expanding the model by transferring science and technology, signing joint contracts, purchasing, and supporting farmers who want to work with the unit. Currently, the unit has 2 mushroom farms, each farm has an area of ^{2,000-3,000m2} , each farm has 10 employees, the unit is currently expanding from 3-5 more mushroom farms. The current output is mainly domestic with each farm producing about 200kg of mushrooms per day.

According to Ms. Van Anh, the project "Building a model for applying scientific and technological advances to diversify the processing of edible mushroom products with high economic value in Hau Giang province" aims to successfully apply new and advanced technologies to process mushrooms according to industrial production methods to create high-value products to gradually support the output of mushroom products, stabilize mushroom cultivation and develop the mushroom value chain sustainably. With specific goals such as: Transferring, receiving and mastering 5 technological processes such as: Processing instant mushrooms; processing mushroom rolls; processing mushroom floss; processing snacks; processing mushroom spices.

Built a model for processing mushroom products using industrial production methods. Technology model , equipment for producing mushroom products (instant mushrooms, mushroom rolls, mushroom floss) with a capacity of 300kg of raw materials/day, mushroom spices with a capacity of 1,000kg/batch and mushroom snacks with a capacity of 30kg of finished products/batch. Output: 6 tons of instant mushrooms, 6 tons of mushroom rolls, 6 tons of mushroom floss, 4 tons of mushroom spices and 2 tons of mushroom snacks . Built and published Basic Standards for processed mushroom products. Commercialized mushroom products. Trained 10 technicians and provided training in production skills.

According to Ms. Van Anh, the project's strengths are abundant raw materials for high productivity and quality, abundant labor force, and low labor costs locally. The technological process is highly scientific, stable, and has been evaluated and accepted. Modern and complete equipment to carry out the production process. Complete products have been produced, with packaging and labels. The young staff is enthusiastic, dynamic, knowledgeable and experienced with the advice of highly qualified and reputable experts.

Mushroom products are controlled from the stages of cultivation, purchasing, cool storage to the processing workshop and industrial-scale production, ensuring industrial hygiene and improved mixing formulas to meet consumer tastes and products of good quality, stable during storage.

“ The product is also changed to different packaging forms and different heat treatment modes to facilitate the preservation process, long shelf life, stability during preservation, easy circulation and distribution. The successful construction of a product is not only determined by technological factors but also oriented towards the goal of optimizing according to consumer tastes through building optimal product models, taste maps and evaluating product acceptance in the market in target segments ”, Ms. Nguyen Viet Van Anh added.

Article and photos: MONG TOAN

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