Editor's Note: The following report is from The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023, which provides insight based on survey responses from consumers. Since 1983, The Packer has sponsored 40 major consumer studies to track trends in the purchases and consumption of fresh produce, documenting the fluctuation in purchases of specific fruits and vegetables as well as changing attitudes toward industry issues.
The Packer’s Fresh Trends 2023 survey showed 33% of consumers said they purchased mushrooms in the past year. That percentage of consumers was down from 38% in Fresh Trends 2022 and down from 40% of consumers in Fresh Trends 2021.
By income level, consumers earning $50,000 to $100,000 per year were the most frequent buyers of mushrooms, with 40% indicating mushroom purchases in the previous year. That’s compared with 33% for those making more than $100,000 annually, 28% for those making $25,000 to $50,000 a year and 29% making less than $25,000 annually.
At 35% indicating purchases, women reported slightly greater fresh mushroom purchases than men (31%).
Of consumers who indicated purchases of mushrooms, 83% said they purchased sliced mushrooms in the past year, with 88% of shoppers making more than $100,000 per year indicating sliced mushroom purchases.