Mushrooms have always been a popular food item in Russia. With the growth of the population, their collection ceased to satisfy consumer needs, and artificial cultivation of mushrooms appeared. The profitability of the business and reviews of this type of activity are attracting more and more entrepreneurs to mushroom production.

What kind to choose?

The most famous variety that is grown under artificial conditions is. There is a lot of publicly available information on the technology of its cultivation, features and recipes. Of the minuses, one can note the presence of competitors in the sales market, the manure substrate and the need to purchase mycelium from specialized companies.

Note. Mycelium is the mycelium from which the fruiting body of the fungus develops. It is grown in laboratory conditions and can be a separate type of business. The substrate is a nutrient medium for mycelium, which can be prepared independently.

The next most popular is oyster mushroom. A useful and nutritious mushroom that grows on straw, sawdust or sunflower husks. Less whimsical in production than champignon, but can cause allergies to spores in workers. Failure to comply with sanitary standards in the preparation of the substrate causes infection and death of the crop.

The exotic shiitake mushroom, common in the East, is mainly purchased by Japanese restaurants. It has healing properties, does not grow under the open sun and costs much more than champignons with oyster mushrooms - from 500 rubles. for 1 kg.

The growing technology has not been worked out and there are no large specialized enterprises. The incubation period is from 1 to 3 months, mycelium is not produced, but imported from abroad at very high prices. As a result, the cost of production is quite expensive, but if there is a constant market, profitability is also high.

Another delicacy mushroom is truffle. Its main feature is that it grows exclusively in forest land at a depth of 30 cm. Those who wish to organize the production of truffles will have to start by renting a large land plot, buying expensive mycelium and waiting for the first harvest for 6 years. It's not for the faint of heart, even considering the selling price of $ 500 per 1 kg. It is possible to collect about 15 kg of mushrooms from one truffle plantation with an area of ​​one hectare.

Of the traditional forest mushrooms, the most beloved is white, although for some reason it is considered poisonous in Switzerland. Cultivation of porcini mushrooms is possible both in rural and urban areas; household plots, greenhouses, and warehouses are well suited for this. Or even at home, but then the harvest and profit will be small, and it is difficult to provide the necessary microclimate.

The general conditions for successful indoor mushroom growing are:

1. Organization of the desired microclimate (humidity, temperature, lighting, ventilation).
2. Acquisition of mycelium.
3. Making or purchasing a substrate.
4. Strict adherence to sanitary standards to prevent bacterial contamination.

Taking into account the advice of experienced entrepreneurs and an assessment of the economic situation, it is most profitable for a novice businessman to start breeding and selling oyster mushroom.

Oyster mushroom cultivation technology

There are two global approaches to :

• extensive;
• intensive.

Extensive technology is very similar to the growth of mushrooms in natural conditions - oyster mushroom is cultivated on stumps and trees. Disadvantages of this method:

1. The incubation period significantly exceeds the germination time with the intensive method.
2. After a few years, the yield of the substrate decreases.
3. It is difficult to provide the necessary conditions for constant fruiting.

The extensive method is mainly used by adherents of eco-products and home businesses.

The intensive method allows you to obtain stable, controlled crops all year round by providing an ideal microclimate. First, the substrate is prepared: straw (husk or sawdust) is crushed and steamed, then nutrients and mycelium are added (at the rate of 3-5 kg ​​of mycelium per 1 ton of substrate). All the resulting mass is tightly stuffed into plastic bags of 10-12 kg. Lots of slits are made in the bags to remove excess moisture and the germination of mushrooms.

The bags are hung from the ceiling or racks in a dark chamber with a humidity of 65% and a temperature of up to 24 °, where the entire volume of the bag is overgrown with mycelium for about a half-moon.

After that, the bags are transferred to another chamber with a high humidity of about 85% and a temperature of 12° to 18°. It is under such conditions that after seven to fourteen days, primordia appear in the slots - fungal embryos, which then form into clusters weighing from 0.3 to 4 kg.

The crop is cut off, and after ten days, new mushroom clusters of a smaller size and weight are formed in the same place. Usually, 3 waves of harvest are harvested from one batch of bags, with decreasing effectiveness. The bags are then discarded or sold as livestock feed.

On average, 2-3 kg of oyster mushrooms are obtained from one ten-kilogram bag.

Procedure

First, you should draw up a business plan, which will allow you to conduct activities in an orderly manner and calculate the required amount of start-up capital.

The main stages of starting a mushroom business:

• legal and tax registration;
• selection of premises;
• purchase of equipment and raw materials;
• recruitment of staff;
• sales organization;
• calculations of financial indicators.

Company registration

The founder can be either one person or several. In the first case, an individual entrepreneurship is formalized, in the second - a limited liability company. Mushroom production belongs to agriculture, so taxes must be paid according to the ESHN system (single agricultural tax) in the amount of 6% of the annual profit.

The list of documents required for legal activity includes:

1. radiology protocol.
2. Certificate of conformity of products to GOST.
3. Phytosanitary certificate.

These papers will need to be issued after the start of production and the receipt of the first batch of mushrooms.

Production room

It is better to find a place for production away from residential buildings, since oyster mushroom spores are highly allergenic. You also need to take into account the location of the main suppliers of raw materials and buyers in order to save on transport costs in the future.

Basic requirements for the premises:

• Minimum quadrature - 15 square meters. m.
• Presence of a microclimate: humidity not less than 80%; temperature not lower than 12 ° and not higher than 25 °; constant ventilation.
• Availability of communications (water supply, sewerage, electricity).
• Concrete floor and whitewashed walls.

The production plan should include:

1. Chambers for growing mushrooms.
2. Substrate making room.
3. Room for pasteurization of the substrate.
4. Stock.
5. Department for employees.

The area of ​​the premises depends on the planned production volumes. From 1 sq. m., you can get about 4 kg of mushrooms every month.

Raw materials and equipment

At first, there is no need to purchase expensive units. You can do without them at all, build your own or buy used cars. The savings will be significant, because the following devices are needed for a large-scale mushroom farm business:

In addition, mushroom chambers need to be equipped with a bag hanging system, harvest boxes and lighting fixtures should be purchased.

• The substrate - straw or sunflower husks - is the cheapest to buy in large farms directly from the fields.
• Mycelium is produced by specialized companies in laboratory conditions using complex technology. The cost of 1 kg of oyster mushroom mycelium is about 100 rubles.
• Nutrient additives - bran or bark - are introduced in the amount of up to 10% of the total volume of the substrate.

Employees

Tons of the substrate must be unloaded and loaded into the equipment, completed with ready-made blocks for growing chambers, moved to the chambers for maturation, then harvested, packaged for sale.

If a beginner farm is not equipped with special equipment, then all operations for preparing the substrate - cutting, processing, mixing, stuffing - are done manually, this also requires workers. In Russian conditions, finding unskilled labor is no problem.

The technologist monitors compliance with the correctness of the technological process. He controls the composition for growing, buys raw materials, monitors the microclimate in the chambers, and assesses the degree of ripening of the crop. In case of contamination of the substrate with pests or non-ripening of mushrooms, the technologist can determine the cause and provide methods for correcting the situation.

On average, 3 handymen, 1 technologist, 1 distributor will cope with the cultivation of 200 kg of mushrooms per day. An accountant is required for accounting and reporting.

Sales

With the right approach, buyers take the entire day's picking of mushrooms by self-delivery. However, it is quite difficult to accurately predict the volume of the crop. You can make a big mistake both up and down and either let customers down or not sell a large batch of a perishable product.

Wholesale consumers are supermarkets, processing plants. Retail sale takes place through markets, fairs, small retail outlets.

If even when selecting a production facility, distribution channels with minimal transport costs are thought out, then high profitability will be ensured from the very beginning, otherwise the delivery of products will be a large item in the cost price.

To form a permanent clientele in stores, you can come up with a company logo, design your own packaging, place recipes on it, etc.

Start-up capital, income and expenses

Growing mushrooms as a business does not require huge investments of money, especially if it is organized on a personal plot and expensive equipment has not been purchased. In this case, to implement a business idea on an area of ​​200 sq. m. you will need:

If the premises are rented and equipment was purchased, then the starting capital will be:

Current monthly production costs:

The average market retail price for oyster mushroom is 180 rubles/kg. With a yield of 800 kg of mushrooms per month, the revenue will be 144,000 rubles.

Investments in a mushroom farm, taking into account rent and equipment, will pay off in 8-9 months.

Spent mushroom blocks can be sold as fertilizer or livestock feed at a price of 60-80 rubles. This will add real profit of 12,000 rubles. - 16,000 rubles.

Profitable mushroom production at the level of 60-70% makes it very attractive for small businesses.

mushroom processing

If production is greater than demand, you can build your own harvesting and processing workshop. Mushrooms, as a very valuable product, are salted, pickled, dried, frozen.

During the natural mushroom season, you can buy forest mushrooms and berries from the population. The most common are chanterelles, white, honey mushrooms, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, blueberries. It is easiest and most profitable to dry or freeze them.

Salting and pickling require a good brine recipe, dish sterilization technology, and a bottling line. And for dried and frozen products, only special equipment, packaging and storage space are needed.

Video: mushroom business.

Mushrooms are an important component of many dishes that appear on the human table. They are fried, boiled, stewed, marinated, canned, baked. Mushrooms are added to soups, salads, sauces and pastas are made from them. In stores you can find many different types of mushrooms, but the most popular are champignons and oyster mushrooms. And they are popular not only among buyers, but also among those for whom growing mushrooms is a profitable and promising business.

Today we will talk about how to start your own mushroom growing business. What to pay attention to first of all? How to choose the right room? Where to find buyers for your mushrooms? How much you need to invest in the initial stages, and how quickly this business pays off. You will find answers to these and other questions in our today's article.

Selection and arrangement of premises for growing mushrooms

Experienced businessmen who have been growing mushrooms for more than a day use special cultivation chambers. They maintain the appropriate microclimate, temperature, carbon dioxide content. All this helps to get the maximum yield of mushrooms, to make it of high quality, so that it satisfies all the needs of customers. The success of a business, first of all, depends on a competent approach to the choice of premises. Even if you already have something in mind, and you know where you will grow mushrooms, then investments will be required in any case.

Good ventilation is a prerequisite. The ideal option is air conditioning with a heating system and maintaining the desired humidity. The initial costs of such a system depend on the size of the room, its condition, on the expected cultivation volumes, as well as on the type of mushrooms. Of course, you can use the same cultivation chamber for different mushrooms, but the result may not be exactly what you expect. Each type of mushroom has its own growing characteristics, its subtleties and nuances, which must be taken into account already at the design stage.

For example, if you decide to grow oyster mushrooms, then know that they are not particularly whimsical in terms of temperature, humidity, lighting, etc. Equipment costs will not be significant. But if you settled on growing champignons, then things are serious. This mushroom is sensitive to the microclimate, and you need to install special equipment that can provide the mushrooms with everything they need.

For the cultivation of oyster mushrooms, you can use almost any ground-type premises: sheds, garages, greenhouses, storage facilities for vegetables, various warehouses, and even premises for breeding animals. Everything can be arranged and converted into a mycelium. Remember that mushrooms are not very fond of direct sunlight and overheating, but they need light anyway. In order to avoid trouble, you can paint the windows white. Thus, the light in the mycelium will always be, it will not heat up much, and you will protect yourself from direct sunlight. A sufficient supply of substrate will help protect against hypothermia in winter. If you do everything right, you can maintain the temperature within 0 degrees even at those moments when it is -15 outside. Of course, under such conditions, mushrooms will not grow, but the mycelium will remain alive and will be able to continue growing as soon as the temperature is restored.

A greenhouse or barn can be purchased as a property, or rented at a fairly reasonable price. Now the real estate market lacks offers for rent or sale of premises of this type. Moreover, many give them at a very low price, just to get at least some money. You also need to think separately about the room in which the straw will be stored for the preparation of the substrate. For these purposes, a small, dry barn is suitable. Of course, if your production volumes are not yet large enough to store tons of straw, then you can buy it. This will save you some money on rent.

You can also save a little on growing champignons if you do not rent a separate room. The second phase of the fermentation of the compost material and the stages of mycelium germination, and then the cultivation of the mushrooms themselves can be done in one chamber. It is only necessary to disinfect the cultivation chamber with a steam generator each time the used compost is taken out. It is also used for processing new compost material. In this case, the savings on renting a separate room will not be particularly significant, since you will have to buy in addition equipment that regulates relative humidity and air temperature, as well as ensure proper heat and moisture insulation.

There are two main ways to grow mushrooms - intensive and extensive. The intensive method of cultivation assumes the presence of the required microclimate, and the possibility of its regulation. Experienced mushroom growers using an intensive cultivation method can harvest all year round using a variety of substrates. In more detail about the intensive and extensive method of growing mushrooms, we will describe further.

Prepare the substrate yourself or buy?

First, let's understand the concepts, so as not to get confused further. The substrate is the basis, the raw material base on which mushrooms are grown. Mycelium is what mushrooms are grown from. You can prepare the substrate on your own using wheat, rye, barley straw, as well as flax fires, corn stalks and stalk, or you can buy from companies that specialize in selling materials and equipment for growing mushrooms. With the right approach to growing, with 10 kg of substrate you will get more than 2 kg of mushrooms. If we talk about the price, then 10 kilograms of raw materials at a price equals one kilogram of oyster mushrooms sold at wholesale prices.

As you understand, a young entrepreneur who does not yet sell tons of mushrooms and does not have a good profit, it is better to learn how to prepare the substrate on his own, thereby saving a significant part of the money on raw materials.

When preparing the basis for growing with your own hands, you should pay special attention to the quality and environmental friendliness of the straw. It should not contain many chemical additives and various kinds of synthetic fertilizers. According to experienced mushroom growers, this significantly worsens the quality and volume of the crop. If the straw is heavily oversaturated with chemistry, then the mushrooms may not grow at all, as they are sensitive to various kinds of pollutants. You can increase yields by adding sawdust, wood shavings, tree bark, or other naturally occurring ingredients to the substrate.

Advice: Buy straw directly from the fields, delivering it yourself. There are companies that offer home delivery of straw, but it is expensive and can become an unnecessary expense.

Do not forget that even the cleanest and most environmentally friendly straw will require pre-treatment, because on its surface there are necessarily harmful microorganisms that can damage your mushrooms and even kill the entire crop. Therefore, the straw should be thermally treated. To do this, you need to place the workpiece in a container, pour boiling water over it, and let it “brew” for at least a day.

But such a "handicraft" method of processing leads to a strong decrease in yield, which will be no more than 1 kg. for 10 kg. substrate. This figure can be increased by using special chambers for pasteurization. Straw is placed inside the chamber, then hot water vapor is injected there. The temperature in the chamber should be approximately 60°C. In such conditions, the straw is kept for 6-8 hours, then the intensity of the steam supply should be reduced so that the temperature drops to 50 °. There must be continuous ventilation in the chamber, in which the raw materials must spend another two days.

As you understand, a lot of straw will be required, because the final yield of mushrooms also depends on the amount of substrate. Therefore, a large room for pasteurization is needed. For this, any warehouse that needs to be slightly re-equipped, made hermetic, is suitable. A new steam generator will cost at least $1,500. But often novice businessmen save on the fact that they use used equipment, or they buy home-made installations.

Intensive way to grow mushrooms

The intensive way of growing is based on a clear control of the microclimate, the correct temperature and humidity. With a good organization of the process, you can harvest all year round.

How is the intensive cultivation of mushrooms?

The already prepared substrate is sown with mycelium based on the ratio: 30-50 kg per ton of workpiece. mycelium. Further, everything is packed in plastic bags of 10-12 kilograms. To avoid rotting, and to remove excess moisture that will accumulate during germination, holes must be made in the bags. After the preparatory stage is over, we place the bags in a special germination chamber. Special conditions must be observed in the chamber: humidity at the level of 60-65%, temperature not higher than 24 degrees, no direct sunlight.

After about two weeks, the mycelium will begin to germinate, and the bags should be transferred to another chamber, where the main growing phase will begin. Here it is necessary to observe a higher humidity (at the level of 80-85%), but a low temperature (12-18 degrees). High humidity is achieved through constant drip irrigation. To do this, it is necessary to install systems above the combs that allow you to regulate the frequency and volume of irrigation.

If all the required conditions are met, embryos of the fruiting body appear on the surface of the mycelium after 1-2 weeks. Subsequently, whole bunches of mushrooms grow from them. Ripening occurs in waves within 5-7 days with a short interval of 10-14 days. Usually the first 3 waves are harvested, and then the used bags are replaced with new ones.

Extensive way to grow mushrooms

With the extensive method of growing mushrooms, the mycelium is introduced not into a fertile substrate, but directly onto wooden stumps or tree bran. This method is as close as possible to the real environment for the growth of fungi. But one must take into account the fact that the cultivation of mushrooms by this method is not very suitable for serious production. Firstly, the cultivation period is much longer than with the use of the substrate, there are more difficulties with the choice of stumps and trees, the cultivation technology is more complicated, and requires considerable study. Also, after about 3-4 years, the yield from one stump will decrease to 10%, which will entail the need to search for new “sites” for growing.

In general, this method is suitable for private cultivation, or for gourmets who prefer the natural taste of mushrooms, and recognize only what is harvested in the forest, or grown using technology that is as close to nature as possible.

Mycelium: buy yourself or grow

The final result of your work on growing mushrooms also depends on the quality of the mycelium. Therefore, you need to buy it either from trusted and reputable manufacturers who have been on this market for more than a year, or grow it yourself.

Self-growing entails a number of certain difficulties:

• Serious knowledge and a lot of experience are needed to grow a fruitful and high-quality mycelium.
• Registration of documents for seed material
• Time costs. Please note that the mycelium needs to be grown, and this will take some time. Then it needs to be sown, wait for seedlings, and only then the stage of the main germination of the fungus will begin. Are you ready to wait? Do you have time?

There are also a number of technical difficulties that it will not be very easy for a beginner to master. Although growing mycelium can be a profitable business, and you can even build a separate business on it, many mushroom growers do not take risks, preferring to buy blanks from large suppliers.

When choosing a supplier, pay attention to permits, read reviews about the company, make inquiries about it. Also look at the mycelium itself. It should be white, without mold, black blotches. The smell should be pleasant, like fresh mushrooms, only cut in the forest.

If you have just started doing this business, and for the first time buying mycelium, then it is better to contact a specialist who can help in this matter. Otherwise, you run the risk of buying a low-quality product that is infected with fungi, or completely unsuitable for your growing conditions. You can find experienced mushroom growers in your area on specialized forums.

Selection of workers for your mushroom farm

All the difficulties that we wrote about above pale in comparison to the problems with finding qualified workers for your mushroom farm. The end result largely depends on the experience of the person who will monitor the process of growing mushrooms. But this experience can only be gained by learning from your mistakes, by trial and error.

If, nevertheless, you manage to find a good mushroom picker, then his salary will be corresponding. The best option is a rate that depends on the amount of the crop. Thus, you additionally motivate the worker to monitor the mycelium, to do everything so that the output has as much yield as possible.

How many people do you need to service your mushroom farm?

If up to 200 kilograms of mushrooms are collected per day, then 2 people will cope with this matter. If from 200 to 500, then 3-5 people will be required. Plus, add those involved in the preparation of the substrate, product sales, accountant and manager. So it turns out that at least 5 people will work on your farm. Over time, as production and sales increase, new people need to be hired and trained.

When choosing a room for a mushroom farm, immediately consider delivery methods. It's great if the farm is located within the city, or somewhere in the suburbs. This will reduce the cost of delivery, thereby reducing the purchase cost of mushrooms. If the farm is somewhere far from the place of sale, then cultivation, due to expensive delivery, may not be profitable.

Dishes from mushrooms (or with their participation) have long been favorites with housewives. Salads, hot dishes, soups, pastries, snacks - delicious and nutritious mushrooms take pride of place on festive and everyday tables. And this means that the demand for them is quite large, and the mushroom growing business can be quite profitable. It is only necessary to study the technology in detail, think over possible options for sales markets, calculate expenses with income - and you can begin to master a new business.

And to make sure this type of activity suits you, you can start with small volumes: grow the first batch in your summer cottage and test how well you understand the theory and put it into practice. And if your mushrooms were a success, you can start opening a business.

What to choose: champignons or oyster mushrooms?

Mushrooms and oyster mushrooms are easy to grow and popular with buyers. I must say that the technologies for their cultivation are similar, but there are some differences.

Most mushroom growers believe that it is more difficult to grow champignons, since this type of mushroom is more “capricious”: it requires a special nutrient medium, and the mycelium from which mushrooms are grown must be of high quality. In this case, the costs will be higher, and the technological process will have to be followed with all care.

Oyster mushrooms in this regard are much more democratic, so it is better for a beginner to start with them. And the mushroom growing business can be mastered later.

Where is the best place to grow mushrooms?

Finding a place for a personal mushroom plantation is not so difficult: they can grow almost anywhere. A basement, a shed, a summer house or a village house, as well as abandoned agricultural or industrial buildings, are perfect for this.

In order for the room to be ideal for the comfortable existence of mushrooms in it, the air temperature there should be from 12 to 25 degrees. Humidity is required quite high - not less than 85%. Therefore, most often mushrooms are bred in basements.

Communications will need to be brought to the room: electricity and water will be required (it must flow uninterruptedly and merge freely). Not to do without heating and ventilation.

There is no need to worry about additional air humidification: if the room is not too large, the required humidity can be achieved by regularly irrigating the bags with the substrate. But if the production is large, and its area is large enough, a humidification and air conditioning system will be required.

No special repairs will be required in the "mushroom" room: the best floor for it will be concrete, and the walls can simply be whitewashed.

The minimum area on which production can be located is 15 square meters. m. We can proceed from the fact that 3-5 blocks with a nutrient substrate are placed per meter, where mushrooms grow.

preparing the ground

Mushrooms are grown in a special substrate - straw (rye, wheat, barley), sawdust (any one except pine will do), bran, sunflower husks, chaff. You can purchase a ready-made substrate (there are farms that are specially engaged in its production). But it's pretty easy to make your own.

If you are planning a business for growing oyster mushrooms, there should not be any difficulties with the soil: it will be enough to pour straw, sawdust, husks or other raw materials with hot water and soak for several hours - the mushroom soil will be ready. It remains only to mix it with the seed and put it in large plastic bags.

With champignons, everything is somewhat more complicated: compost is required for their cultivation. You can also buy it, but you can cook it yourself: it will be much cheaper.

As a raw material, it is better to take straw from wheat. It must be dried, crushed, and then saturated with water (in a ratio of 2–2.5: 1). After that, chicken manure or ordinary manure should be added to wet straw and left for two weeks, it is important that air is provided. For maturation of compost, you can use special ventilated containers.

In properly prepared compost, champignons grow well - the harvest will be excellent.

Mushroom seedlings: how to choose

Mycelium - seed material for mushrooms - novice farmers usually purchase in large mushroom farms. When buying, you need to make sure that the quality of the mycelium is at the proper level. The seed should be even white (no spots), a necessary condition is a pleasant mushroom smell. Feel free to ask the seller for a license and quality certificate.

Over time, you will also be able to master the cultivation of mycelium, including for sale: this business is profitable, albeit laborious.

Process Technology

When the premises are found and equipped, the soil is prepared and you already have high-quality seed, it's time to start sowing. Compost and mycelium need to be mixed and laid in layers in special containers (you can take large plastic bags - this is the lowest budget option). We fill the bags to the top, and make holes from the bottom so that excess moisture does not accumulate.

First of all, the mycelium must germinate. The optimal conditions for this are 20–24 degrees Celsius and 60–70% humidity. The room should be dark and well ventilated.

After three days, slits are made in the bags - mushrooms will appear in them. After another two weeks, the bags will become overgrown with mycelium. This completes the first stage: now you need less heat and more moisture: 12–18 degrees and 85%. At least 12 hours a day, the room must be lit.

Mushrooms bear fruit three times - 5-7 days each with a break of approximately two weeks. The richest harvest is the first, the second and third are already smaller. When the last crop is harvested, the “mushroom bag” is thrown away, and a new one takes its place.

Income and expenses

It is difficult to classify this business as a high-cost one, however, like any other, it requires clear planning and accurate calculations, so you will definitely need a mushroom growing business plan. How much it will cost to start a business depends on many factors: the scale of production, the variety of mushrooms, the price of compost, the cost of arranging heating and ventilation, and so on. Let's calculate how much one production cycle can cost.

• Thirty tons of compost (subject to self-production): straw, litter, etc. In total - 20-25 thousand rubles.
• Mycelium - 13-15 thousand rubles.
• Utility costs - 50 thousand rubles.
• The salary of the workers is 65 thousand rubles.
• The total will be about 150-160 thousand rubles.

Now let's calculate the income. One ton of compost yields about 200 kg of mushrooms. The price of a kilogram of champignons is about 100-120 rubles. Thus, the revenue should be about 650 thousand rubles. After deduction of expenses, 500 thousand rubles are obtained.

But here we are talking about a clean production cycle with ready-made and equipped premises. To start a mushroom growing business from scratch, you need to take care of the production area. For this you will need:

• "warm room" - for sprouting mycelium. Here you need a heating irrigation system and good ventilation;
• a cool room (with lighting, heating, ventilation) for growing mushrooms;
• transport.

If you plan to make your own compost, you will need another small room with a chopper and a pasteurizer.

To whom and how to sell products

After the harvest is harvested, it is too early to immediately go to the sellers. It is also necessary to collect all the documents necessary for the sale of a batch of mushrooms. These include:

• declaration of conformity with the state standard;
• phytosanitary certificate;
• conclusion about the radiological examination.

As for the markets, there may be several options:

• to sell mushrooms on the market on your own, it is profitable if the production volumes are small, since you can get not a retail, but a wholesale price. However, for large manufacturers, this method of selling goods is not suitable;
• make deliveries to cafes, restaurants, shops; Here you can set a good price and at the same time the volumes will be considerable. However, you will have to deal with delivery, conclude numerous contracts.
• sell mushrooms to wholesalers. The price in this case will, of course, be lower, but the process of selling the goods is simplified as much as possible.

We formalize entrepreneurship

The mushroom growing business needs to be registered legally (the private farm option is not suitable here - the requirements for mushroom and oyster mushroom producers are quite strict). It will be mandatory.

The code for this type of activity is according to A.01.12.31.

The good news is that you can choose one of the most profitable taxation regimes -.

Mushrooms are always popular, regardless of the season. Some people like to collect them in the forest on their own, others prefer to buy them in shops and markets. Growing mushrooms at home or in the country can be a very profitable business. Its profitability reaches 40%, and entering the business does not require special knowledge and large investments.

What mushrooms to grow?

First of all, you need to decide which mushrooms you plan to grow. There are several cost-effective options:

• Porcini- one of the most valuable on the mushroom market. Soups, sauces, salads are prepared from it. Is in high demand. But at the same time, growing porcini mushrooms is somewhat troublesome, as they grow best in gardens near the roots of trees. When grown in greenhouses, they need to create conditions similar to natural ones.
• Oyster mushrooms- the easiest type of mushroom to grow. It requires a small area for planting, and a monthly harvest per square meter can reach 14 kg. The first mushrooms can be obtained in a month. Oyster mushrooms are in high demand because they contain a lot of nutrients, vitamins B, PP, C and H and amino acids.
• Champignon- This type of mushroom is considered one of the most expensive. Requires compost, which is quite difficult to make at home, therefore, you will have to spend money on its purchase.

Business registration

It is necessary to obtain a number of documents that will allow you to legally sell mushrooms:

• Certificate of registration as an individual entrepreneur. OKVED code - A.01.12.31. (growing mushrooms and mycelium). ESHN should be chosen as the tax regime.
• Certificate of registration with the pension fund and tax service.
• Permission and certificates from SES.
• Conclusion of Rospotrebnadzor.
• radiology protocol.
• Quality certificate obtained in Rosstandart.
• Compiled and approved rules for the storage and transportation of mushrooms and products derived from them.

Please note that certificates obtained in the laboratory are valid only as long as you grow mushrooms on the same substrate. When changing the substrate, it is necessary to undergo laboratory tests again.

Room selection

Mushrooms can be grown both indoors and outdoors. The second is relevant if you plan to open a mushroom farm and get a crop all the time, and not just in the warm season. Suitable as a basement, as well as a warehouse, a greenhouse and even an ordinary living room.

Mushroom cultivation requires a dry and clean room with good ventilation. In the cold season, it is also necessary to install additional stoves or radiators to maintain the thermal regime.

It is worth paying attention to the humidity, which should reach 80-90%, depending on the type of mushroom grown. To maintain it, it is necessary to install containers filled with cold water in the room.

Despite the fact that mushrooms do not like bright light, it is still necessary to provide short-term artificial lighting. It will be needed during the ripening of the crop.

It is advisable to divide the room into several zones, based on the main stages:

1. For the preparation and storage of the substrate.
2. For planting mushrooms.
3. For sprouting mycelium.
4. For the direct cultivation and collection of mushrooms.
5. For processing and storage of finished products.

The selected room must be pre-treated with a disinfectant solution and then the walls whitewashed.

Purchase of mycelium

Mycelium is a mycelium that looks like thin light threads with a thickness of 10 microns or less. After planting it, the growth of mushrooms begins. When choosing a mycelium, one should pay attention to the variety, type and timing of the ripening of mushrooms, their resistance to diseases of various kinds.

Be sure to check the expiration date of the mycelium, their color and smell. The seller must have a license for the goods.

To get started, buy a small trial batch.

Equipment

For the proper organization of a business on a mushroom farm, it is important to have such equipment and consumables as:

• polyethylene bags for planting mushrooms;
• refrigerator and cold rooms;
• heaters;
• humidifiers;
• racks;
• container for packaging;
• harvest boxes.

Staff

If you have established a serious production on an industrial scale, then you should get assistants. To run a mushroom farm you need:

• technologist;
• harvester and packer;
• handyman;
• Sales Manager.

The number of workers depends on the size of the farm and the amount of harvest.

How to grow white mushroom

The technology depends on where you grow mushrooms:

In an open area

First you need to prepare a special solution according to this recipe: break the cap of an adult mushroom and soak it for a day in cold water. Then, on the site, it is necessary to remove the top layer of turf directly near the trees, and pour the cleared place with an infused solution with fungal spores.

It is worth planting mushrooms at the end of May - beginning of June, if you are in the southern regions, in the middle lane, the landing dates fall at the end of August - the beginning of September.

To accelerate growth, you can buy mycelium of porcini mushrooms. It is planted in a small pit, about 20-30 cm deep. It is first filled with a substrate. Substrate can be:

• dry foliage of trees;
• bark;
• various kinds of nutrient mixtures.

The thickness of the layer reaches 7-10 cm. Then a second layer is laid, consisting of humus or ordinary earth, mycelium is laid on it, then another layer of nutrient mixture 3 cm thick. Then everything is sprinkled with a layer of earth 3-5 cm thick.

in the greenhouse

Seeds must be planted in boxes and placed on racks. For planting, special compost is used, consisting of:

• dry crushed straw;
• sawdust;
• sunflower husks;
• chalk or plaster in small quantities.

Chicken, cow or horse droppings can act as fertilizer. The resulting mixture is poured with hot water and infused for 2-3 weeks. During this period, the compost is shaken and watered. Then mycelium is added to the compost and laid out in boxes.

In the room it is necessary to organize subdued lighting, a high level of humidity and provide ventilation.

Oyster mushroom cultivation

There are two options for growing these mushrooms:

First option

It involves the preparation of the substrate, which includes:

• crushed and soaked straw;
• sawdust;
• fresh sunflower husk.

The mixture is crushed and poured with hot water. After cooling, it is placed in polypropylene bags. The substrate layer and the mycelium layer should be alternated. In this case, the mycelium makes up 3-5% of the total mass of the bag. The polyethylene should have holes for ventilation, about 2 cm in diameter. It is advisable to make holes every 15 cm.

The first month, the blanks are stored in a closed dark room at a humidity of 90% and a temperature of about 25 degrees. After the specified period, everything moves to a cooler place with a temperature regime of 12-18 degrees, where the mushrooms ripen.

The first mushrooms can be obtained in a few weeks, and they grow in waves. With each new wave, the amount of harvested is less.

Second option

It implies the use of wood and stumps for growing crops:

1. They take stumps of deciduous trees, preferably young ones that are not infected with other fungi. You can also use pre-treated cuts from tree trunks.
2. Stumps and cuts are infected with mycelium and kept at high humidity until they are overgrown with mycelium.
3. Then they are planted in the ground to provide constant moisture.

This method is characterized by low productivity and is used extremely rarely.

You can learn about the real experience of growing such mushrooms from the video:

Growing champignons is considered a more complex process. Firstly, this is due to the fact that they require a special compost or substrate, and secondly, it is necessary to strictly observe the microclimate.

The substrate can be prepared independently. For him take:

• fresh dry straw - 12 kg;
• fresh chicken manure or cow or horse manure - 8 kg;
• gypsum or chalk - 0.5-1 kg;
• ammonium sulfate - 200-250 g.

All this is laid out in layers, then insisted for a month, watering daily, every 6-7 days it must be shaken. To determine whether the mixture is ready for planting, the absence of a characteristic ammonia smell will help. As soon as it disappears, you can sprinkle the compost with earth and plant the mycelium.

The temperature regime for champignons is at least 15 degrees, best of all - 20-25. The humidity level is within 70-80%.

The mushroom picker germinates within two weeks, and the first harvest can be obtained in 2-3 months.

Sales of mushrooms

Finished products must be sold as quickly as possible or specially processed for long-term storage. Fresh mushrooms can be sold:

• selling them to restaurants and canteens;
• deliver to markets and shops, supermarkets;
• sell to individual buyers.

Leftovers can be canned or dried.

During Lent and on holidays, the cost and demand for mushrooms increases.

How much money do you need to start a business?

Here is a sample business plan for expenses:

1. Premises for rent in 40-60 sq.m. - 7,000 rubles.
2. Purchase of mycelium or mycelium - 10,000 rubles.
3. Purchase of substrate or compost - 20,000 rubles.
4. Packages at the rate of 500 pieces - 5,000 rubles.
5. Plastic boxes, 10 pieces - 1,000 rubles.
6. Equipment for organizing a microclimate - 15,000 rubles.
7. Refrigerators and cold rooms - 40,000-60,000 rubles.
8. Transportation costs - 15,000.
9. Registration and execution of all papers - 20,000 rubles.
10. Utility bills - 30,000 rubles per month.

To open a business, on average, you will need 183,000 rubles. The exact item of expenditure depends on the volume of production and the region.

Business Pros

The main advantages of the mushroom business include:

• mushrooms are unpretentious in care and do not require constant care;
• no special training or skills required;
• use in the production of simple and affordable materials;
• high demand and stable income.

For starters, it's best to try growing mushrooms on a small scale for yourself. Once you understand the cultivation process, you can expand the mushroom farm and enter the market.

When working with mushrooms - planting, harvesting - use gauze bandages, as fungal spores can cause allergic reactions.

Video: Mushrooms - an idea for a private business

You can learn more about growing mushrooms and organizing a mushroom business from the video below:

Growing mushrooms is a fairly cost-effective and simple type of business. It does not require any special knowledge. Its profitability reaches 40%, and it pays off within a year.