Mushrooms Are Most Sustainable Foods

Founded in 1925, Basciani Foods is a leading producer and distributor of mushrooms in the United States. Headquartered in Avondale, Pennsylvania, Basciani Foods is a family-run business. Five generations have been involved in growing, packing, and shipping mushrooms.

According to the American Mushroom Institute, mushroom is one of the most sustainable foods on the planet. From planting to harvesting, mushrooms use fewer resources and cause fewer carbon dioxide emissions than many other foods.

Farmers use upcycled materials from other agricultural divisions to plant mushrooms, such as chicken litter, cow manure, almond husks, cotton hulls, and corn cobs. Once grown, mushrooms consume little water. One pound of mushrooms, for instance, uses less than two gallons of water, far less than many fruits and vegetables that use tens of gallons.

Mushroom farming requires less land because they are often grown vertically stacked indoors. One foot of land can produce 7.1 pounds of mushrooms per year, with every pound emitting only 0.7 pounds of carbon dioxide. 

Cremini - Mild Flavorful Mushroom Ideal

Basciani Foods is an Avondale, Pennsylvania producer and distributor of fresh produce that ranges from quality mushrooms to berries. Among Basciani Foods’ core mushroom offerings are those of the cremini variety. Many consumers do not realize that this staple fungi, technically known as Agaricus bisporus, is the same as that which yields white button and portobello mushrooms.

The difference is that the white button mushroom is picked when young. It has a softer texture and white color when cultivated, and a browner color in the wild. The portobello, by contrast, has been allowed to grow into a mature specimen that features a large meaty cap that home chefs prize for its complex flavor.

Situated in the middle, the cremini is moderately mature and has a flavor similar to its white button sibling. In some grocery stores, it may be marketed as a “baby portobello,” to make clear that it is of the same species. The cremini mushroom is ideal for those who create soups and stews, and want a substantial fungi that adds flavor while holding up well to hot liquid, maintaining its texture and consistency.