Labor shortages or lack of vision: risk perceptions in the mushroom industry
Date
2018
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Publisher
University of Delaware
Abstract
Kennett Square, located in Southeastern Pennsylvania, is the self-declared ‘Mushroom Capital of the World.’ More than half of U.S. mushrooms are grown in the area, making it the largest cash crop in the commonwealth. Though growers nationwide have steadily increased the efficiency of their operations over the past few decades, the price per pound of mushroom has remained stagnant and risks such as labor shortages, pests and diseases, and the implementation of strict government regulations threaten the financial stability of many of the farms. Meanwhile, imports from countries with fewer regulatory standards, such as China and Mexico, are on the rise, which may increase food safety risks throughout the country. This research examines the perceived risks of the mushroom industry as well as the ways in which its members are attempting to prevent these risks. Data was collected through twenty-seven semi-structured interviews with members of the Chester County mushroom community, as well as a survey of members of the broader U.S.-based mushroom industry. This study finds that those working in the mushroom industry perceive labor shortages, tied to a workforce dependent upon immigration policy, as the greatest risk to the sustainability of the U.S. mushroom industry. Additionally, risks unique to the industry, such as the mushroom fly, are often compounded by government policies and geographic location.
Description
Keywords
Biological sciences, Social sciences, Government regulation, Immigration policy, Political risk, Reflexivity, Risk management, Risk perception