Angel Valley Farm - Springtime Mushroom Recipe from Oregon

Angel Valley Farms are very serious about their mushrooms and have custom designed and built houses to create the optimum and most efficient atmosphere for Shiitake. Their Shiitake are always very consistent in quality and because of their facility and expertise, their mushrooms are the nicest grown anywhere in the world which you will discover with your order.

They raise 2000-3000 lbs. of premium Shiitake a week in two "greenhouses" (hoop style with white, insulated plastic on them instead of clear). Both houses have a huge heater/cooler system that keeps the temperature at 64 degrees, the humidity at 90% and the air fresh (Shiitake, as they grow, emit carbon dioxide (just like we do when we breathe) and this has to be flushed out as the mushrooms don't thrive in high co2). Shiitake like a lot of filtered light so the lights stay on 24 hours a day. The brightness is equivalent to a cloudy day. They do not like direct sunlight.

Their Shiitake are grown on blocks made of oak shavings and wholesome grains. They look like little burnt loaves of bread! The process of getting the block to where it is ready to produce is long and involved. There is no manure used in the production of Shiitake (thank goodness). Inside the houses there is very little odor - it smells like a forest after it has rained - sweet, musky and damp. There are no pests in their houses as they have a large population of tree frogs which keep the gnats down! All in all it's a very pleasant place to be!

They are dedicated to sustainable agriculture and belong to The Food Alliance. They are an organization that ensures farmers are not hurting the land or polluting the environment with their farming practices and are treating their employees well. They had to pass a very stringent at-farm certification process to be accepted and are proud to be the only Shiitake grower approved.

They sell large and small size. The larger mushrooms are easy to stuff and look nicer sliced as a garnish. The smaller ones can be popped into your dish. They are great raw on salads. Shish-ke-bobs are easier with the small ones, too - just skewer them whole.

They also sell kits that come with everything you need and a brochure that tells all. You will have no problem doing it yourself at home. You'll receive a fresh block right out of their production room and will have mushrooms within 12 days!

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