Agaricus bisporus

About the Common Mushroom

Agaricus bisporus is a type of mushroom that many people eat. It is often called the cultivated mushroom. This mushroom grows naturally in grasslands in Eurasia and North America, but it is also grown on farms in many countries.

When young, this mushroom can be white or brown. As it grows bigger, it may be called different names like button, cremini, or portobello. All these names are for the same mushroom at different ages.

People love to eat these mushrooms because they taste good and are healthy. They grow well in rich soil and compost, which makes them easy to farm.

How We Grow Them

Farmers grow Agaricus bisporus in many places. In 2022, China grew the most, followed by Japan, the United States, Poland, and the Netherlands.

These mushrooms have been grown for a very long time. A French scientist wrote about growing them in 1707. Today, most white mushrooms in stores come from farms where they are kept safe and healthy.

Good to Eat

Mushrooms are mostly water and have very little fat. They give us a small amount of energy and contain useful vitamins like riboflavin and vitamin D. They also have minerals such as phosphorus and potassium, which help keep our bodies strong.

Mushroom and truffle production – 2022
Country	Millions of tonnes
China	45.4
Japan	0.47
United States	0.32
Poland	0.26
Netherlands	0.24
World	48.3
Source: FAOSTAT of the United Nations

Safety First

While Agaricus bisporus is safe to eat, some wild mushrooms look similar and can make people sick. Always make sure a mushroom is correctly identified before eating it, especially when picking it from the wild.