Crispy and chewy clean straw mushrooms from Van Long.

Mr. Long's family's straw mushroom product has been recognized as a 3-star OCOP product of Cam Giang district.

According to Mr. Cu Van Long, his hometown is a predominantly agricultural area where rice cultivation is the main crop. Therefore, there is an abundant supply of straw, making it ideal for growing straw mushrooms. Since 2021, Mr. Long has invested 2 billion VND on 3,000 square meters of land to establish a clean straw mushroom production facility with 11 mushroom growing houses. After numerous trials, he has successfully cultivated a clean Taiwanese straw mushroom variety, initially building the brand "Van Long Clean Straw Mushrooms".

Taiwanese straw mushrooms are characterized by their crispness, sweetness, slow blooming, high nutritional value, and abundance of antioxidants and beneficial substances. They are also low in fat and cholesterol, making them a popular food source suitable for vegetarians and those on diets. 100 grams of properly dried straw mushrooms contain 21-37g of protein, 21g of fiber, 9.9g of carbohydrates, and only 2.1-4.6g of fat. They also contain several trace minerals, various vitamins, and essential amino acids.

Fresh products from Van Long Clean Straw Mushroom Farm are sold on the market.

However, cultivating Taiwanese mushroom spawn in Vietnam presents challenges. Because Vietnam's weather is hotter than Taiwan's, careful temperature regulation is crucial for optimal mushroom growth. The ideal temperature ranges from 28-32°C, with humidity around 80%. Maintaining humidity requires frequent watering using a misting system. The cultivation facility must be airtight, have a cool ceiling, and be well-insulated; otherwise, the mushrooms are very susceptible to rot and spoilage.

Taiwanese straw mushrooms grown indoors at Van Long Clean Straw Mushroom Farm.

With 11 mushroom cultivation houses, each currently yields an average of 300 kg of fresh mushrooms per month. In 2023, this facility produced and sold nearly 40 tons of fresh straw mushrooms, with regular testing to ensure food safety and hygiene. The product packaging contains complete information about the place of production, expiration date, and a QR code for information lookup. The products are picked up directly by traders to supply organic food stores in Hanoi , with a small amount sold retail to local households. The average selling price is 100,000 VND/kg of mushrooms. The facility currently provides stable employment for 8 workers, with an average income of 9 million VND/person/month.

Mr. Long (wearing a hat) regularly checks the growing conditions of the mushrooms.

At the end of 2023, Van Long straw mushrooms were recognized as a 3-star OCOP product of Cam Giang district, gaining more recognition and facilitating sales. During the recent Lunar New Year (Year of the Dragon), the facility did not have enough products to meet demand, causing the market price to rise to 160,000 VND/kg at one point. To meet market demand, since the beginning of this year, Van Long Straw Mushroom Facility has invested in expanding production, building 11 more mushroom growing houses, a packaging workshop, and a warehouse.

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