Worker harvests shiitake mushrooms in the cultivation greenhouse located in the Industrial Park of Minle county, Zhangye city, Gansu province, on April 16, 2024. [Photo provided to gogansu.com]

As the delicate hues of spring color the landscape, Minle county in Zhangye, Gansu province, is bustling with activity within the Industrial Park of the Edible Fungus Industry. Inside the Hongfei Bio Edible Fungus Cultivation Greenhouse, workers are meticulously harvesting the ripened shiitake mushrooms.

This mid-spring season marks the peak period for edible fungus cultivation. Within more than 50 edible fungus cultivation greenhouses of Hongfei Bio, ripened shiitake mushrooms stand tall and proud atop the mushroom logs with their stout, uniform bodies. With nimble hands, workers swiftly harvest and package the bounty, preparing to transport it to neighboring provinces Qinghai, Ningxia, and Xinjiang.                 

Capitalizing on its unique climatic conditions, characterized by cool temperatures, significant diurnal temperature variations, and an abundance of sunshine, Minle county has embraced edible fungus cultivation as a pivotal strategy for agricultural restructuring. The county has vigorously pursued the development of mushroom strain cultivation, mushroom bag production, and industrialized edible fungus production, encompassing a wide range of edible fungi, including oyster mushrooms, shiitake mushrooms, wood ear mushrooms, golden ear mushrooms, and enoki mushrooms.

Today, Minle county boasts seven industrialized edible fungus bases and 1,595 edible fungus greenhouses, with an annual total edible fungus production exceeding 6,000 tons. The county's dedication to edible fungus cultivation has not only enriched the local agricultural landscape but also contributed to the economic vitality of the region.