FASCINATED WITH MUSHROOMS OR JUST LOVE EATING THEM? YOU ARE NOT ALONE

Here are a few of the many questions we regularly get asked and some food for thought to inspire and tickle your taste buds.

Are they good for you?

Are they ever! They're not called a superfood for nothing. Low in calories, cholesterol, fat and sodium yet packed with essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. They're also a good source of easily absorbed, high quality vegetable protein with the added bonus of amino acids. But don't take our word for it check out the research on www.mushroom-uk.com

Your everyday mushroom has more selenium, potassium, B2 and copper than many exotic varieties

How can I get my children to eat them?

Like all foods, start young and make it fun. It tends to be texture more than the flavour so introduce early in weaning and blend to start (always follow your health visitors advice). It’s a great base for baby food both for flavour and nutritional content.

When you're past the weaning stage start getting your children involved and used to handling the mushrooms – they can be easily chopped by children with their own kiddie knife so have fun together cooking and teaching them how to use their utensils at the same time. If they've helped cook it they're more likely to eat it. Let them experiment with your herbs and spices by sprinkling over small flat mushrooms and baking in the fairy cake tins. Who knows what new recipes they may come up with.

Try them raw – you'd be amazed how many children love them like this – very refreshing. Imagine a bag of button mushrooms instead of a bag of sweets – it does happen, honest.

From Pharaohs to Fairies, Victorians to Vikings Adored for thousands of years

How do they grow?

The whole cycle takes around 6 weeks, half the time it looks like nothing is happening and then, watch out it's harvesting time. In reality that first 3 weeks is a hive of activity with the complex root system totally colonizing the entire growing beds. It’s a critical stage which requires a lot of care and nurture. After that the crops are skilfully picked every day for the next 2-3 weeks. We work on a rotation basis so we have a new crop starting every week and one finishing giving you an all year round supply of tasty mushrooms.

The largest mushroom farm in the world grows in over 150 miles of limestone mine.
That's nearly 5 times longer than the Isle of Man

Is there much waste?

No not really. With careful management of the crop alongside working clearly and in partnership with our buyers we avoid adding to the needless food mountains. But you can rest assured that when there is spare, it finds a worthy home helping various projects across the island, including the homeless.