Originally published in Lancaster Farming
Written by Philip Gruber

Pennsylvania lawmakers want USDA to study how crop insurance could be offered to mushroom growers.

Under a bill announced June 5, the Federal Crop Insurance Corp. would have two years to assess the unique challenges of mushroom production, including phorid flies, pathogens and loss of growing media due to heavy rains.,While mushrooms don’t need sunlight, they grow in nutrient-rich compost that is attractive to many fungi and pathogens, said Chris Alonzo, owner of mushroom company Pietro Industries in Kennett Square.

The study would consider best practices to minimize risk of losses, and would weigh having a single policy for mushrooms or separate coverage for various phases of production. “The Farm Bill needs to work better for specialty crop producers,” said Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa.

He joined Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., U.S. Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pa., and U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Pa., in announcing the legislation.

Mushrooms are one of Pennsylvania’s leading ag products by sales, generating $460 million in the 2021-2022 marketing year. Mostly based in southern Chester County, the state’s 110 growers produce two-thirds of U.S. mushrooms, according to USDA. During a June 7 Senate Agriculture subcommittee hearing, Fetterman also asked Alonzo if mushroom growers would be open to producing psychedelic mushrooms for medicinal purposes.

As entrepreneurs, mushroom growers are open to ways their product could contribute to health, Alonzo said.

“Obviously you have to do it within parameters of being secure and safe and responsible,” he said.

Though the crop insurance proposal was presented in a standalone bill, it could become part of the 2023 Farm Bill.

In addition to discussing crop insurance, mushroom growers are seeking reforms to immigration law that would expand their access to foreign workers, said Rachel Roberts, president of the American Mushroom Institute. Mushroom farms operate year-round, but the H-2A visa program for agricultural guestworkers is geared toward seasonal produce operations.