Mushroom farmers prepare for the Lunar New Year season.

In the final days of the year, the atmosphere at mushroom farms in Thanh Hoa province is busier than ever. Farmers are focusing on every step of the preparation process to ensure the best quality mushrooms are harvested in time to meet the increased demand during the Lunar New Year.

Mushroom farmers prepare for the Lunar New Year season. A mushroom farming model implemented by a household in Hoang Quy commune (Hoang Hoa district).

Mushroom farming in Thanh Hoa has developed significantly in recent years, not only as a new direction providing stable income but also as a valuable part of the rural economy . Locals have utilized readily available materials such as straw, sawdust, and sugarcane bagasse to cultivate straw mushrooms, oyster mushrooms, and shiitake mushrooms, meeting the growing market demand.

Ms. Le Thi Lan's family in Hoang Quy commune (Hoang Hoa district) has over 5 years of experience in mushroom cultivation. During the Tet (Lunar New Year) season, Ms. Lan prepares thousands of mushroom substrate bags for production. She shared: “I have to carefully check each substrate bag, ensuring they are incubated at the appropriate temperature and humidity. A single faulty substrate bag can affect the entire crop. To ensure good mushroom growth, I use a closed greenhouse system, combined with ventilation fans and humidity meters...”. Thanks to this systematic investment, Ms. Lan's family earns over 50 million VND from selling fresh mushrooms each Tet season.

In Tho Vuc commune (Trieu Son district), Mr. Nguyen Van Hung is also busy preparing for the Tet holiday with a 300m2 area for growing shiitake mushrooms. According to Mr. Hung, Tet is the time of year when mushroom consumption is strongest. His family has invested in an infrared heating system to maintain a stable temperature for mushroom growth during the coldest days. He says shiitake mushrooms have high economic value, usually ranging from 180,000 to 200,000 VND/kg during Tet. With good care, he can harvest nearly 500kg each month, bringing in a significant income.

The family of Mr. Ngo Van Chung in Dong Yen commune (Thanh Hoa City) is also busy completing the production stages of white oyster mushrooms to serve the Tet market. Mr. Chung shared that to get standard mushroom bags, many meticulous steps are required. The main ingredient is sawdust mixed evenly with 20-30 kg of lime powder per ton, then carefully fermented to sterilize and create a suitable environment. In addition, nutrients such as rice bran, corn bran, and a little sugar must be added before packaging into individual mushroom bags. In the days leading up to Tet, to meet the deadline, Mr. Chung hired two additional local laborers to assist with the stages from raw material processing to harvesting. Thanks to thorough preparation, his family expects to earn about 40 million VND from the Tet mushroom crop.

The mushroom market also becomes vibrant during Tet (Lunar New Year) at Vuon Hoa Market (Thanh Hoa City). Ms. Nguyen Thi Ha, the owner of a stall specializing in supplying clean food, said that the number of customers ordering mushrooms during Tet has doubled compared to normal days. Customers now pay close attention to product quality, especially mushrooms grown according to safety standards and without the use of harmful chemicals.

Currently, farmers in the province have gained access to new knowledge about mushroom cultivation techniques, thereby improving productivity and product quality. In particular, the application of high technology in production, such as automatic irrigation systems and temperature and humidity control, has helped mushrooms grow uniformly while minimizing dependence on weather conditions. Besides focusing on production, mushroom growers are also striving to find stable markets. This not only enhances the value of the product but also helps build a trusted brand for Thanh Hoa mushrooms. Agricultural fairs and exhibitions, especially during the Lunar New Year, have become great opportunities for Thanh Hoa mushroom products to reach a wider customer base.

The mushroom market extends beyond the province to neighboring provinces and major cities. Clean, VietGAP-certified mushroom products will become the preferred choice for consumers, especially during important holidays like the Lunar New Year.

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