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Abstract: Commercial mushroom production in Central and South America has increased substantially in the past several decades. Since the 1950's, it has increased to approximately 21 million kg per annum, with almost all destined toward the canned market. Production in Costa Rica and Ecuador grew rapidly in the early 1970's through influence of the American Mushroom Corporation. Whereas, only until recently have large scale production facilities emerged in Colombia and Chile. The materials for growing mushrooms have evolved based on the availability of local materials. For example, compost may be made from sugar cane bagasse coffee skins, rice straw, horse manure or wheat straw. Some farms still prepare their compost by-hand; whereas, others use modem composting machinery. Casing materials may consist of local soils, imported Canadian peat or coconut husks. Spawn may be imported from the United States or home-made. The systems vary from single-zone system to bulk tunnels.
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