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Selection of raw materials

 

 

Wheat straw
In nature, mushrooms are fed by decomposing organic matter (leaves, wood, etc.)
That way, they return to the ecosystem’s circle inorganic materials and humus, which are absolutely necessary for plant nutrition.
Wheat straw is an organic matter, similar to the one mushrooms find in nature. Furthermore, it exists in sufficient quantities and has a relatively stable constitution and structure.
In our effort to create the base for a successful substrate, we collect WITH OUR MACHINERY best quality wheat straw from various fields of central Greece every summer, applying rigorous criteria thereto, such as sample tests on the spot and physical-chemical analysis in accredited laboratories.

 

Second cut Alfalfa hay before bloom
It is an indispensable ingredient for the enrichment and increase of the substrate’s nutritional value. It replaces chemical fertilization in a fully ecological way.

 

Spawn – Mycelium
In March 1931, James W. Sinden obtained a patent issued by the U.S. Patent Office, related to the method of mushroom spawn making. The spawn would be produced following the injection of mushroom mycelium into sterilized grain spawn. Today, 86 years later, the spawn is produced following the same basic method. Our company collaborates with the biggest company of spawn production worldwide, while in the meantime, it also participates in evaluation programs of new hybrids before they pass into commercial production. The strains are separated into different categories, depending on their requirements, the environmental conditions, the characteristics of sporocarps (fruiting bodies) produced, etc. Some of the hybrids we commonly use are: HK35,KRYOS Fotius, Helios, 3253, etc.

Sylvan, in collaboration with the Agricultural University of Athens, Laboratory of General and Agricultural Microbiology, is proud to bring you a brand-new generation Oyster Mushroom strain (Pleurotus Ostreatus); Sylvan G8™. This newly developed high-performance Hybrid strain shows strong biological efficiency/productivity and yields beautiful and high-quality fruit-bodies. The strain should also show more resistance to bacterial infections compared to classic commercial strains available in the market today. We recommend this strain as most suitable for cropping outside the warmest summer periods.

Note that Sylvan G8 is protected by CPV rights #20173220 and is therefore exclusively available from your Sylvan branch only. Substrate producers are requested to clearly mark their blocks with the Sylvan G8 name and corresponding spawn batch code prior to dispatch. We are proud to be the first that made the field trials of this new strain launched in 1st of October 2019.

 

 

 

 

 

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Hits: 2007

 

Substrate Production

 

 

The cultivation of mushrooms is a modern application of microbial technology for transforming organic waste into biomass and into a food of particular nutritional value for man. After a thorough study of the biology section concerning true fungi (mushrooms), we created a production unit of high technology, in which we approximate with respect, passion, care and taste a model that is so skilfully applied in nature.

Our substrate production unit is located in an area of 2.5 hectares, in ideal conditions at the foot of mount Dirfis, away from any kind of industrial activity. It operates under high standards and is based upon Dutch technology.
Productivity per week:
120 tons of incubated & 130 tons of spawned Pleurotus substrate .
Pasteurization tunnel: 30m long x 4 m wide.
Automatic climate control system: Fancom 750.
Substrate standardization: emptying winch automatic blocking machine in a place of high hygiene standards.
Substrate incubation: incubation rooms under controlled conditions in shelves with a total surface of 6000 m².

 

 

 

 

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Drying Process

 

 

When harvested mushrooms are exposed to sunlight during the summer months they start producing vitamin D naturally in large quantities. The explanation for this is that the UV light converts mushroom’s ergosterol – a naturally occurring substance in mushrooms – into ergocalciferol (vitamin D2). Solar drying delivers safe and high quality dried mushrooms with great taste and intensified flavour that can be used all year long. Therefore, dried mushrooms have the potential to become a great natural source of vitamin D in winter months.

 

 

Dirfis Mushrooms is the first company in Europe bringing to market dried mushrooms high in vitamin D. Our solar-dried “My delicious OYSTER MIX” consists of golden and grey oyster mushrooms organically cultivated in our farm on the island of Euboea (Greece) away from any industrial activity in an environment dominated by organic olive groves.

The dried mix contains more than 2100μg of Vitamin D2 per 100g, which means that one or two mushroom slices can fulfil the recommended daily intake of vitamin D. Solar-dried mushrooms represent the only source of vitamin D for vegans!

 

 

 

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Mushroom Cultivation

 

Our mushroom cultivation units are located at a safety distance of 7 km away from the substrate production unit, thus ensuring conditions of high hygiene and reduced risk of infection during pasteurization and incubation. The location at the foot of mount Dirfis has been selected on the basis of scrupulous environmental criteria and is characterized by lush vegetation and by the ideal geographical conditions creating the appropriate micro-climate for mushroom development. Situated far away from car and industrial pollution, the unit respects all required standards for the production of pure natural products free of any external pollution. Total cultivation areas: 6500m2

One of the most impressive phenomena in nature is the rapid and sudden appearance of mushrooms. This phenomenon depends directly on the evaporation rate of the mycelium’s growing fruitfulness and its osmotic pressure. By applying the ideal ventilation, environmental temperature and relevant humidity into the growing tunnels, we are constantly trying to keep the evaporation rate within required levels.

Waste management

At the end of cultivation process, the substrate is separated from its plastic cover. Out of those two materials, the plastic is recyclable and is forwarded to a recycling company; as for used substrate, it is left aside and undergoes a natural weathering. 3-4 months later, it makes a perfect material for soil improvement in arboriculture or horticulture. Electrical or thermal energy spent for this cultivation is negligible, since for heating we rationally use auto-energy provided by the substrate itself; as for cooling, the use of cooling panels is sufficient for creating the ideal micro-climate in a most ecological way.

1st shiitake cultivation in Greece

In 2006, we were the first who introduced in Greece the technology for the cultivation of medicinal mushrooms Lentinula edodes («Shiitake» in Japanese, «Xiangu» in Chinese), that have been traditionally cultivated in China since 1000 A.D. and are exported all over the world. In collaboration with the world famous «inventor» of Shiitake’s commercial cultivation, that is Mr. Zhaowang Peng, we actually managed to cultivate that demanding mushroom and export it to E.U. countries.