Hotels, restaurants and the public in Lochaber will be getting a taste of the exotic thanks to a new business based in Strontian.
'Ardnamushrooms' is the brainchild of husband and wife team Robert and Justine Dunn who are growing gourmet mushrooms for local supply from their small farm.
The business, which received a £4,000 grant award from Lochaber Enterprise, uses a recently developed, innovative system pioneered in China .
The process involves mixing oak shavings and hardwood chips with organic bran. These are then put into bags, sterilised and mixed with inoculated grain. After a few weeks of incubation a 'block' is formed which is placed in a growing room from which the fungi fruits. The harvested product will then be sold as Highland grown, edible fungi.
The system will enable the mushrooms to be grown year-round overcoming the problem of seasonal availability. Initially Ardnamushrooms will be focusing on shiitake but expects to add Lion's Mane, oyster and, hopefully, other gourmet fungi by the end of 2006.
They plan to offer their produce to local restaurants and hotels with regular deliveries but also hope to sell directly to members of the public. Selling over the internet and mail order are other methods being considered.
The Lochaber Enterprise funding has been provided for the purposes of carrying out development works totalling £15,800. This includes insulating and providing electricity and plumbing to an existing cow byre for the sterilisation, mixing and incubation processes.
Alison Boyle, development manager at Lochaber Enterprise said: "Fungi growing will help this business to diversify which makes their whole crofting business more viable.
"The business will also allow them to put their scientific background to good use monitoring of the fungi growth cycle and experimenting with different mixtures and fungi types."
Ardnamushrooms will also add to the rich diversity and high quality of produce found in the food and drink sector across the area.
