A SHARED love of Welsh poetry has led to the rapid expansion of a Gwynedd mushroom-growing company.

The Mushroom Garden – Snowdonia, has already tasted success in producing fresh and dried Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms for customers including restaurants, hotels and the National Trust.

However, as the family-run business in Nantmor, near Beddgelert, has blossomed, so has the need for more growing space.

As a result of the formation of a new partnership, the business is set to increase its capacity five-fold, with the weekly production of Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms estimated to rise from 200kg to around one tonne per week.

Thirteen years ago, interest in fungi and foraging led Cynan and June Jones to try their hand at cultivating mushrooms at their smallholding.

“At that time there was a European Union-funded programme being run by Bangor University and Gwynedd County Council which looked at what alternative high-value crops could be grown in the area,” explains Cynan, who previously worked in financial services.

“We knew a bit about mushrooms anyway, and we were taken on as a pilot scheme. At the end of the programme, we carried on.”

Unlike conventional mushrooms which grow in compost, the Shiitake and Oyster mushrooms are grown in polytunnels, chemical-free on special Welsh oak blocks.

However, while still around 15 per cent of the business, fresh mushrooms have a limited shelf life.

Wishing to cut back on the potential for waste, Cynan and June began drying their mushrooms to extend their use.

By powdering and seasoning the mushrooms, they have created a whole range of products.

Cynan said: “We are quality food producers and are eager to develop new opportunities and markets with our range of products based on mushrooms, which are suitable for all types of dishes such as meat, fish, vegetarian and vegan dishes.”

Operating from a commercial kitchen which they created from a building at the rear of their house, their mushroom-based seasonings include Shiitake, and an Oyster Mushroom-based HerbShroom.

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