Which state grows the most mushrooms?
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Answer
Biscuit's fun facts
Mushrooms are the forest's cleanup crew. Fungi that feed on dead wood and leaves break them down and send the nutrients back into the soil. Without them, the park service says, a redwood forest “would be nothing but a wood pile!”
Who says so: National Park Service (Muir Woods National Monument) (opens in a new tab)
Some of those fungi may be able to clean up pollution, too. White-rot fungi make enzymes that break apart wood's toughest part (lignin) — and researchers are studying whether the same enzymes can break down pesticides, PCBs and even dioxins. It's an active research idea, not yet an everyday fix.
Who says so: USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory (opens in a new tab)
Compare
Mushrooms grown (pounds, 2024)
Note: measured in pounds, with every mushroom type added together. Only states that publish a value are shown. Only the top states are shown here — smaller producers (and states USDA doesn't publish) aren't listed.
Recap
📋 See the ranking table (top 8)
| Rank | State | Value | Share of U.S. total |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Pennsylvania | 593,145,895 pounds | 63.6% |
| #2 | California | 106,828,909 pounds | 11.4% |
| #3 | New Jersey | 87,979,307 pounds | 9.4% |
| #4 | Oregon | 7,110,910 pounds | 0.8% |
| #5 | New York | 1,265,578 pounds | 0.1% |
| #6 | Wisconsin | 1,250,665 pounds | 0.1% |
| #7 | Virginia | 807,777 pounds | 0.1% |
| #8 | Nevada | 762,136 pounds | 0.1% |
| 🇺🇸 USA (total) | 933,046,200 pounds | 100% |
Only the top states are shown here — smaller producers (and states USDA doesn't publish) aren't listed.
Figures are published for 20 states; this table shows the top 8.
Source: USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service (2024 (Census of Horticultural Specialties))