Kennett Square, the unofficial Mushroom Capital of the World, continues to dominate mushroom production in the nation amid the industry’s boom, writes Laura Reiley for The Washington Post. 

Mushroom production in the Chester County borough began in 1885, when two Quaker farmers began cultivating fungi from spores they brought back from Europe. For the next century, Kennett Square grew almost all mushrooms in the United States. 

Today, the mushroom industry around the world has exploded. The market is estimated to be worth $56 billion, and is projected to grow to $136 billion by 2032. 

In addition to their growing popularity as food, mushrooms have become crucial to sustainability and innovation. They are used in a increasing number of industries, including in the creation of eco-friendly materials such as packaging, textiles, and plant-based leather. 

Mushrooms are also being used in environmental clean-up, as they are capable of breaking down heavy metals, plastic pollution, and food waste. 

Other new uses include non-alcoholic drinks, biodegradable coffins, and outdoor kits for eco-friendly waste management. 

“People are looking for models for better ways of living, and suddenly fungi are the good guys,” said Sigrid Jakob, president of the New York Mycological Society. 

Read more about the expansion of the United States’ mushroom industry in The Washington Post. 

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