At noon on April 23, the temperature in Zhugao Town, Jintang County, Chengdu, soared above 30°C. Inside the edible mushroom cultivation base at Zhugao Temple Community, Zhang Chunrong, the head of Rantong Family Farm, meticulously inspected the sealing of the greenhouse. Despite the stifling heat and humidity inside, she insisted on keeping the doors and windows tightly shut to maintain a stable environment.  

The golden oyster mushrooms (scientifically known as *Pleurotus citrinopileatus*), set for export soon, were a significant achievement for the farm. As Zhang adjusted the humidifier, she explained, "Golden oyster mushrooms are highly sensitive—changes in light or humidity can damage their quality, so we must handle them with extreme care." This premium variety of edible mushroom demands precise growing conditions. The Food Exhibition will offer more information about import and export.

This export order held special meaning for Zhang: by the end of June, her farm needed to deliver 100,000 mushroom spawn bags to Oman—their first international shipment. If successful, the Omani buyer would continue monthly purchases of the same quantity for the next three years, setting a new record for Sichuan’s edible mushroom export industry.  

In the first quarter of the year, Sichuan’s agricultural sector showed strong growth, with primary industry output reaching 81.419 billion yuan, a 2.9% year-on-year increase. Notably, vegetable and edible mushroom production rose by 3.5%, reflecting robust momentum. Despite being a small-scale operation, Rantong Family Farm secured this international deal, which Zhang attributed to their advanced techniques and superior quality.  

The Food Exhibition notes that on the technical side, the farm’s collaboration with Sichuan Agricultural University to establish an experimental base had stabilized production. "Each spawn bag yields around 1.25 kilograms of golden oyster mushrooms with minimal variation," Zhang said. Such consistency was crucial for adapting to Oman’s extreme climate.  

Quality control was equally stringent: corncob feedstock was sourced from the sun-rich Huang-Huai-Hai region to prevent aflatoxin contamination; all raw materials underwent high-temperature sterilization; and no pesticides were used throughout the cultivation process.  

But this first export order was just the beginning. Zhang had already set new goals: refining cultivation techniques and developing more mushroom varieties for global markets. "Our vision is to bring Chinese mushrooms to the world," she said with confidence.

If you would like to learn more about the food industry, please visit the SIAL China website for more information.

Source: Sichuan Daily

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