First shiitake mushrooms grown in Northern Ireland

Shiitake Mushrooms have been launched by an experienced grower in Northern Ireland for both foodservice and retail customers.

The unique mushrooms, usually associated with Japan and east Asia, are now being cultivated near Jonesborough in county Armagh by Jemmy McCann under polytunnels.

The first shiitake harvest from the enterprising Armagh grower has already been supplied to a distributor as well as retailers and chefs to taste test in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The mushrooms are being marketed under Ard Mhacha - Irish for Armagh - Shiitake Mushrooms.

Mr McCann, whose parents, Kevin and Majella, had been growing white mushrooms for three decades, started growing shiitake in March. "I had been growing traditional Irish white mushrooms with my parents and developed an interest in shiitake," Mr McCann says. "I wondered if shiitake could be a mushroom here which would command a premium price especially with high-end restaurants.

"My parents decided to stop growing mushrooms about three years ago and I then chose to explore opportunities for shiitake."

He began researching shiitake about two years ago to find out if the unique mushroom could be grown in the challenging climate of Northern Ireland and especially in county Armagh.

"I found out as much as I could from the internet and other sources. There's no-one growing shiitake in Ireland and so I thought there might be a business opportunity for such a richly flavoured and premium mushroom.

"The shiitakes which I have produced have a distinctively deep woody taste," he says.

"White mushrooms have been grown here successfully for generations," he continues. "But shiitake is a completely different plant and can only be grown here in a polytunnel and carefully cultivated."

Mr McCann planted his first crop in March and is using water only to nurture the mushrooms. "While I haven't yet achieved organic accreditation, I am using organic techniques to grow the mushrooms. I don't use any chemicals in growing them," he adds. The first crop was harvested in July.

"Feedback about the mushrooms has been extremely positive from initial customers. This has encouraged me to press ahead to increase production and expand sales to existing and potential customers here and in the Republic of Ireland," he adds.