Scientific American,
5/14/2009
Pennsylvania is the largest producer of edible mushrooms in the United States-and, presumably also of the stink that is forcing for-profit fungiculturists to look elsewhere to raise these delicious denizens of dark, damp places. Scientific American looks at the issue and the work of Penn State scientists who are trying to eliminate the odor.
Donald "Buster" Needham and his sons Artie and Don are moving their mushrooms out of Pennsylvania. Needham, 73, took over the business from his own father 50 years ago, but his West Grove operation--fueled with several hundred tons of steaming horse and chicken manure each week--has proved too stinky for city folk buying up homes in this township 40 miles (65 kilometers) west of Philadelphia.
[...] farm odors are a national problem that are pitting agricultural economies against a deluge of suburbanites who thought they wanted a piece of the country lifestyle. That's why Penn State scientists are stepping in to try to make the beleaguered mushroom industry more environmentally friendly.
Original Souce: Scientific American
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