How to Ship Mushrooms

Mushrooms can be prepared in a variety of ways.

Edible mushrooms are the fleshy parts of many fungi species. They are a low-calorie food and are prepared in a variety of ways, such as in soups, deep-fried with a batter coating and as a popular topping for pizza. Mushrooms are considered to be a good source of vitamin B and other essential minerals. Mushrooms tend to dry out in just a few days so it is essential to follow a few specific guidelines when shipping them.

Things You'll Need

• Paper towels
• Plastic zipper bags
• Old newspaper
• Packing material
• Medium-size shipping boxes

Instructions

1. Wash the mushrooms thoroughly to remove dirt and bacteria.

2. Loosely wrap two or three mushrooms at a time in a damp paper towel, which will help to keep them moist. Place the loosely wrapped mushrooms in a plastic freezer bag, removing as much air as possible. The bag will serve to keep the moisture in the mushrooms.

3. Line the inside of your shipping box with filler such as crumpled up newspaper, poly-pellets, bubble wrap or foam packing material. Place the bags of mushrooms on top of the filler. Place more filler on top the mushrooms if there is still room in the box.

4. Select a fast delivery service from your local post office such as Priority, Express or Overnight Mail. Mushrooms will dry out in a few days, so time is of the essence. The sooner the mushrooms arrive at the intended destination, the better they will be. Make sure to let the post office know you are shipping food and that it is time-sensitive.

References

• American Mushrooms: Edible Mushrooms
• Mushroom Science: Ordering and Shipping
• Professor House: Keeping Mushrooms Fresh