American Mushroom Institute History

The idea for the American Mushroom Institute began prior to America’s involvement in World War II by growers in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Growers wanted an organization to act as an advocate for the mushroom farm community.

After the war, efforts continued to organize the mushroom farmers and in the 1950s Walter L. Gmuer of F. D. Croce and Co., Inc., of New York City took a leadership role and became the first executive director of the American Mushroom Institute.

Louis Toto of Landenberg spearheaded a membership drive of local mushroom growers in 1954; the same year that 100 mushroom owners agreed to advertise mushrooms. With the help of attorney George J. Brutscher, the organization was incorporated and bylaws were developed and AMI was legally incorporated on January 14, 1955.

In 1955, as it is today, the AMI’s purpose is to promote increased consumption of cultivated mushrooms by every means possible, including research, advertising, publicity, merchandising, consumer education and government relations. The organization also assists in the developing of better and more economical methods of growing, packaging and shipping mushrooms.

The AMI continues today to work with mushroom farmers and suppliers and with educational institutions, including The Pennsylvania State University, for the betterment of the mushroom growers. The AMI is a national voluntary trade association representing the growers, processors, and marketers of cultivated mushrooms in the United States and industry suppliers worldwide.

American Mushroom Institute http://www.americanmushroom.org/