Agaricus bisporus
Agaricus bisporus
Common Name: White Button, Portabello
Type: Gourmet
I want you to close your eyes and picture a mushroom…
There’s a good chance that it’s the White Button Mushroom that pops into your head first. Buttons are by far the most commonly cultivated mushroom in North America.
In fact, about 900 million pounds are produced each year in the United States alone!
People started growing button mushrooms- or Champignons– in France, over 300 years ago. They were originally “cultivated” by simply digging up the mycelium of wild fruits and planting them in underground caves.
Today, agaricus farms are typically left up to the big guys- gigantic commercial operations that are made profitable due to the sheer volume of mushrooms produced. Since this mushroom is so common, it fetches a low price per pound at the market, making it very difficult for small farmers to get in on the action.
Button mushrooms are delicious and versatile, and can be added to almost any meal. People are also using this mushroom as a meat substitute. The portabello can be crushed up and formed into a vegan-friendly burger patty.