The shroom boom hits Philly
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Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Philly is in on a cap-tivating new trend — mushrooms are sprouting up in soda, protein bars and more.
Why it matters: Pennsylvania is the nation's mushroom capital, growing nearly 70% of the country's supply. And that's mostly thanks to a borough roughly an hour outside of Philly.
The big picture: Sales of food and beverages with functional mushrooms are up over 450% in the U.S. since 2021, per NielsenIQ.
- Sales in Philadelphia have also risen more than 450% — from $1.6 million in the first half of 2021 to $6.1 million in the first half of this year.
What they're saying: "Mushrooms have such a health halo," says Chicago-based registered dietitian Janet Helm.
- "Particularly with Gen Z, if you put it in a beverage, they love it." That's largely because of sustainability and brain-boosting possibilities.
Between the lines: We're not talking about "magic" mushrooms.
- "Functional" mushrooms include lion's mane, chaga, reishi and cordyceps (something "The Last of Us" fans might be familiar with).
Stunning stat: About an hour outside of Philly, the region around Chester County's Kennett Square supplies roughly half the country's share of mushrooms.
State of play: The borough celebrates its quirky claim to fame with an annual festival, returning next month. It honors the tradition dating back to the late 1800s, when several Quakers started growing mushrooms under their flowerbeds.
- Yes, but: Kennett Square is facing more local competition.
Case in point: Mycopolitan, Philly's lone urban mushroom farm, now grows about 1,200 pounds of premium faves — from enoki to black pearls — in a Northeast Philly basement.
- Besides offering member-only farm share pick-ups across Philly, you can buy their shrooms at local grocery stores (think: Weaver's Way) or sample them on select tasting menus, per Philly Mag.
The bottom line: Fungi fever is taking root, but the only high you'll get is in antioxidants.
What's ahead: The Kennett Square Mushroom Festival runs Sept. 6–7.