DILIMAN, Quezon City - Mushroom products were on showcase during the Free Seminar on Mushroom Production and Processing held by the Agricultural Training Institute (ATI).

Participants of all ages watched and learned how to produce and process mushroom with the help of the Rural Improvement Club (RIC) of Burgos in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija.

Led by its President, Virginia Smith, members of the RIC of Burgos talked about how to produce mushroom in the backyard. Also, they demonstrated how to prepare and cook mushroom-based products such as noodles, sisig, tempura, and mushroom pao.

“We started producing mushroom as a group in 2015. We continued production since then and ventured into processing for additional source of income and for variation of our products. Through this, our members are able to earn consistently,” Smith shared.

The RIC of Burgos now regularly sells fresh and processed mushroom within their community and other clients. Their organization wants to expand in terms of production so that they will be able to provide livelihood to the community as well.

Rolando Santiago came all the way from San Jose del Monte, Bulacan to attend the seminar. He grows backyard vegetables such as peppers, radish, eggplants, and others for for consumption.

The 59-year-old farmer produces mushroom, too, and has his own mushroom house. Through this seminar, he learned a different way of selling his produce. “Producing mushroom is a hobby for me and I learned how to process them through this seminar. I will try it by tomorrow. Through this, I hope to eventually sell them in my neighborhood in the near future,” Santiago said.

The Free Seminar on Mushroom Production and Processing was conducted last November 24 at ATI’s central office.