Mushrooms are the driving force behind the agricultural economy in Chester County, accounting for 86 percent of its $531.2 million value of products sold, according to county figures.
The county is first in mushroom production of all the counties in the state, and third in the country. But according to federal lawmakers, mushroom farmers are not given the same crop protections as others in the ag community across the state and nation.
To address this discrepancy, on Wednesday a bi-partisan group of Washington lawmakers from the state re-introduced the “Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act,” which had first been written in 2023, but was not acted upon in that congressional session.
The bill was co-sponsored by U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan, D-6th, of Easttown and Dan Meuser, R-9, of Luzerne County in the House of Representatives and U.S. Sens. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and Dave McCormick (R-Pa.), who introduced a companion bill in the Senate.
According to a press release, the bill would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct a study on offering federally-backed crop insurance specifically for mushroom farms, which face threats like inclement weather or pests uniquely harmful to mushrooms.
Upon the completion of a study showing the efficacy of a new crop insurance product, the USDA would have the authority to begin offering it immediately to farmers. Nearly 70% of the mushrooms grown in the United States are farmed in Chester County, and the industry has an economic benefit of $1.1 billion to Pennsylvania’s economy. More than 9,000 jobs in the state are supported by mushroom farms.
“Every time I speak with mushroom farmers in Chester and Berks counties, they tell me about the unique threats they face,” said Houlahan in a press release about the legislation. “Pests like the Mushroom Phorid fly and the Mushroom Sciarid Fly are only found in mushroom houses, and the fungal pathogens they can carry destroy entire crops. It is time that the federal government step up to ensure our farms are protected and can be passed down to the next generation.”
“Pennsylvania leads the nation in mushroom production, with family-owned mushroom farms supporting more than 9,000 jobs and contributing more than $1.1 billion to our state’s economy,”
Meuser said. “It’s essential that our family farms have access to the protections they need against potential threats to their crops, including the ability to secure crop insurance for unforeseen challenges. This legislation takes a responsible step toward evaluating how expanding crop insurance to mushroom farmers could strengthen their long-term viability.”
“Pennsylvania is the mushroom capital of the world, and our mushroom farmers deserve access to the same insurance as so many other producers – that’s just common sense,” said Fetterman. “I’m grateful that Congressman Thompson and Senator Stabenow included this bill in their proposals for the Farm Bill last year. Now, it’s time to finally pass this legislation and give Pennsylvania farmers the coverage they need.”
“Many people might be unaware that the mushroom capital of the world is Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, employing nearly 10,000 people and contributing nearly $1.3 billion to the local economy,”
McCormick said. “USDA’s crop insurance program should be available to all farmers, and I’m hopeful that this yearlong study yields much needed coverage to protect Pennsylvania’s mushroom farmers. I look forward to working on this and other agriculture initiatives with my colleagues in the House and the Senate.”
“The mushroom industry is grateful to our Pennsylvania legislators for the reintroduction of this Act to give mushroom growers, nationwide, access to an important tool they need in their toolbox for the competitiveness and survival of wholly domestically produced fresh mushrooms in the United States,” said Rachel Roberts, president of the Avondale-based American Mushroom Institute, an industry group. “This bipartisan group is committed to this industry, which is committed to this country’s agricultural legacy.”
According to the press release, since joining Congress, Houlahan has advocated for the “Mushroom Capital of the World” — the mushroom industry in Chester County and its workforce. In 2019, Houlahan introduced a bill to make Oct. 15 National Mushroom Day. She and Meuser previously introduced the Protecting Mushroom Farmers Act in 2023, and it was included in Agriculture Committee Chairman G.T.Thompson 2024 draft of the Farm Bill.
To contact staff writer Michael P. Rellahan call 610-696-1544.
Source: Berkshire mont