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Mushroom Production as a Business Workshop Series 2026

• Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
• Wednesday, March 18, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
• Wednesday, March 25, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
• Wednesday, April 1, 2026, 6:30 PM - 8:00 PM
• Saturday, April 18, 2026, 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Cornell Cooperative Extension Orange County (CCEOC) is excited to announce a collaboration with Flowering Sun Ecology Center to offer a comprehensive educational series on mushroom cultivation and business development. This five-part program combines online learning with hands-on experience, designed to empower participants with the knowledge and skills to grow, manage, and scale mushroom operations sustainably. This program will be provided in English & Spanish

Program Overview

• Class 1 – Foundations of Mushroom Cultivation Zoom | March 11, Wednesday - 6:30–8:00pm Participants will explore fungal biology, mushroom life cycles, and cultivation pathways. Topics include infrastructure basics, essential equipment, and standard operating procedures for cleanliness.
• Class 2 – Designing Your Mushroom Operation Zoom | March 18, Wednesday - 6:30–8:00pm This session focuses on translating ideas into functional systems. Participants will learn about space planning, environmental controls, contamination management, and post-harvest handling.
• Class 3 – Building a Sustainable Mushroom Business Zoom | March 25, Wednesday - 6:30–8:00pm Attendees will dive into the economics of mushroom production, exploring pricing, sales channels, customer relationships, and cooperative business models.
• Class 4 – Scaling, Finance, and Long-Term Viability Zoom | April 1, Wednesday - 6:30–8:00pm This class covers scaling production, financial management tools, budgeting, risk management, and long-term planning for resilience and diversification.
• Class 5 – On-Farm Mushroom Production Intensive In-person at Flowering Sun Ecology Center | April 18, Saturday - 11:00am–3:00pm Participants will gain hands-on experience with lab tours, inoculation demonstrations, sterilization practice, and gourmet mushroom cooking. This immersive session also includes discussions on scaling challenges and disease prevention.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of the series, participants will:

• Understand fungal biology and cultivation systems
• Design small-scale mushroom operations with workflow and sanitation plans
• Explore business models, sales channels, and cooperative opportunities
• Develop financial strategies for scaling and sustainability
• Gain hands-on skills and community connections to support their mushroom journey

Registration Information

Training fee: $30 per person

Registration is required for all sessions. Registration closes on 03/05/2026.

Lunch will be provided for the onsite training

For more information, please contact Nathaniel, Cell: 917-635-9966 or email at nl498@cornell.edu or Javier, Cell: 845-344-1234 Ext:275 or email: jba78@cornell.edu

Fee

$30 per person

Register

https://bit.ly/48qfln2

Last updated December 10, 2025