ABSTRACT
The cultivated mushroom, Agaricus bisporus Imbach, has been grown in Taiwan in commercial scale since 1958. In the 1970s and 1980s, Taiwan was the largest supplier of canned mushrooms in the world market. Mushrooms are usually grown on compost of rice straw in rice production countries. The conventional mushroom houses were made of bamboo with the side walls covered with plastic sheets to keep the temperature and humidity within a desirable range. A. bisporus is an edible mushroom introduced by the United States to Taiwan in the late 1950s. Production of canned mushroom for export started in 1958. Washing is best carried out in a narrow trough with a steady flow of water leading to an elevator fitted with sprays. The width of the trough should be no longer than that of the elevator to avoid dead space where mushrooms could be retained and become sour or discolored.
