Farming with fungi and feeling

19 October 2014 - 02:04 By Sue de Groot
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Mother and daughter Kotie and Ida van Tonder come from a family that has been farming in Darling in the Western Cape for generations.

When Kotie saw an opportunity to create jobs for women on the farm by growing mushrooms in old, unused buildings, Darling Gourmet Mushrooms was born.

Their operation is seasonal as the mushrooms are grown naturally without the use of electricity. During summer they grow the pink oyster variety, which can handle the heat. In the cooler months they grow other types of oyster as well as eryngii and shiitake.

"Our harvest is very small," says Kotie, "never more than 100kg a week. We supply a few delis near us and sell at the Palms market in Woodstock every Saturday."

The mushrooms are also sold at the popular monthly market at Groote Post wine estate near Darling. Apart from selling fresh mushrooms - and their gourmet five-mushroom grilled kebabs at markets - Ida has begun making DGM tree oyster marmalade, shiitake pâté and ready-mixed mushroom trail mix for hikers. - Sue de Groot

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facebook.com/darling.gourmetmushrooms

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