DALLAS, TX – The global mushroom market is currently valued at nearly $30 billion, but a new report from MarketsandMarkets suggests it could go much higher. 

According to the report entitled “Mushroom Market – Global Trends & Forecast to 2019,” the market is expected to reach more than $50 billion by 2019. 

It goes on to say that Europe dominated the market in 2013 and is projected to be the fastest-growing market for mushrooms between 2014 and 2019, followed by the Asia-Pacific region.

Of the more than 2,300 species of edible and medical fungi, the most commonly consumed and produced mushrooms are button, shiitake and oyster. Those combined accounted for almost 76% of the global mushroom market size in 2013.

According to the report, button mushrooms were the first mushrooms commercially exploited on an industrial scale, which is part of the reason they are so popular. The button mushroom segment totaled about 36.1% to the total mushroom market in 2013.

Shiitake mushrooms follow button in popularity and are the most popular specialty mushrooms in the United States and in Western European countries.

With the growing popularity of mushrooms coupled with increasing awareness of the health benefits that they offer, it is easy to see why this market would continue to grow.

Stay tuned to AndNowUKnow for the latest on the mushroom market.