Iceland’s sole mushroom farmer produces 11 tonnes of mushrooms per week, but this is still not enough to meet domestic demand for the tasty fungi. Vísir reports that the popularity of keto and vegan diets among Icelanders has led to dramatic increase in the consumption of locally grown mushrooms.
Flúðasveppir (‘Flúðir Mushrooms,’ named for the region in South Iceland in which they are located) is an established company that grows three varieties of mushroom: white, brown chestnut, and portobello. It employs 30 inviduals.
“Yes, there’s a health wave,” remarked owner Georg Ottósson. “We’re well-suited for vegan [diets] and keto as well, such that we’re in fashion right now. It’s fun to be in fashion, because it creates a foundation on which to produce good products that sell well.”
Georg says that there are plans to expand the facilities in Flúðir so that the company will be able to produce enough mushrooms to meet domestic demand.
