Next week on May the 21st a major milestone is planned for the European branch of Lambert Spawn. On this day the new facility in Venlo, the Netherlands will be opened officially. After a successful start-up and test run, everything is ready and in place to start production. This new production site will be responsible for producing and distributing spawn to the European, Asian, African and Middle East market and has his own distribution channel.

The grand opening will be celebrated in combination with the 100th anniversary of the Lambert Spawn. This celebration and opening is open by invitation only. Guests are coming from China, Russia, India, Europa and many different other countries. Close to 40 nationalities will come to the opening.

On May 10, 36 tons of Shiitake mushroom cans produced by Tiantianxiang Food Co., LTD were loaded in the truck for export, on May 12, they are expected to pass customs clearance in Qingdao Port, then enter into Malaysia after a week.

Founded in 2013, Tiantianxiang Food Co., LTD situates in Wanrong County, Shanxi Province of China. For years, it mainly specializes in mushroom research, cultivation, acquisition and deep processing, marketing and trading of other subsidiary agricultural products.

Over the years, relying on abundant agricultural resources, Wanrong County comprehensively sends force to cultivation and processing of Shiitake mushroom. Up to now, above 2000 farmers have been encouraged to launch into mushroom industry by over 20 bases and enterprises, annual mushroom production scale reaches 10 million bags, annual output value hits 80 million CNY. Shiitake mushrooms produced in Wanrong County gain popularity by consumers in Korea, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan and other countries by virtues of thick texture, short feet, round appearance, rich fragrance and abundant nutrition.

Recently, in mushroom cooperative located in Zhengyang County, Zhumadian City, Henan Province of China, Shiitake mushrooms cultivated via peanut hulls are in picking period.

“Relying on our own superiority and industrial foundation, we make nutrient bags for Shiitake mushroom production via smashed peanut hulls,” introduces person in charge of the cooperative warmly, going on that in general, hundreds of nutrient bags could be done with each 100 kg of peanut hulls, nutrient bags made from peanut hulls are not only superior in quality, but also economic and environmental. Most importantly, it helps save 100,000 CNY of cost for the cooperative.

Too often there are problems with second flushes. The first flush is rather normal but not extra-ordinary. The problem starts showing on the third harvesting day of that first flush by loss of quality and second flushes do not come back the way they should.
If the casing soil of those rooms is examined closely then it will appear that whatever water is given, it is still very dry. All water given after the first flush seems to be gone before the flush has even started.
Most of the times there is too much mycelium in that casing soil. A problem what was already there before the start of the first flush but really shows in the second.
At that moment the problem cannot be solved anymore. One has to look for solutions before even the fructification has started.
Solutions lay in the choice of casing soil, the amount of water on that casing soil during incubation, the way of watering and in the climate control during casing soil incubation.

Too much mycelium results in too fine strands of mycelium and therefore a lack of water transport to the mushrooms. Mycelium dries out very fast and too much mycelium forms a crust together with the casing soil. What is needed is a thick, white type of mycelium. Only this can guarantee strong, heavy and white mushrooms. Especially in second flushes.

Henk van Gerwen