Originally published in the Daily Local

WASHINGTON—Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA) on Tuesday announced legislation that formally recognizes October 15 as National Mushroom Day and honors the regions of Chester and Berks Counties, Pennsylvania, for their unparalleled contributions to the national mushroom industry.

“I’m honored to introduce legislation that elevates the work of our mushroom farmers,” said Houlahan. “Over 60 percent of mushrooms consumed in this country are grown right at home in Kennett Square and the surrounding areas. Our community is home to many multigeneration family farms. This thriving industry employs nearly 10,000 workers and brings nearly  $3 billion dollars to our community. I am proud to honor their work and wish everyone in Pennsylvania and beyond a happy National Mushroom Day.”

American Mushroom Institute President Rachel Robert said there is a lot to love about mushroom farmers.

“Not only are they a nutrition superfood in the grocery aisle—picked in the morning and on the shelves in the evening—they are a testament to the precision and hard work of a community of growers who have established and sustained an economic powerhouse in the region," he said. "Over half of all mushrooms produced in the United States are grown in Chester and Berks Counties. As a result, the mushroom industry drives a large part of the area’s economy, providing thousands of jobs, millions in annual tax revenue for the counties and state, and over a billion dollars in direct and indirect spending in the area each year. Representative Houlahan understands the positive health and economic impacts of the mushroom industry.”

The Economic and Fiscal Impacts of the Mushroom Industry report shows the U.S. mushroom industry has an economic impact of $3.1 billion, through sales of mushrooms, supplies and other indirect spending.

According to the report, in 2018, total mushroom industry sales – including direct mushroom sales and the sale of inputs required to produce mushrooms – totaled $1.6 billion. From those sales, the mushroom industry generated an additional $1.5 billion in indirect and induced spending, for a total impact of more than $3.1 billion. The industry supports 21,000 jobs with $864 million in wages.