Hawthorne Mushroom Farms produce Oyster mushrooms (Pleurotus ostreatus), the most familiar of the "wild" mushrooms being sold at local groceries. They have more flavor and a more interesting look than button mushrooms, but are milder than pungent morels or dried porcinis. During the cool seasons of early spring and late fall, these mushrooms also can be gathered in the woods, however Fungi will only grow into mushroom, which releases reproductive spores into the environment, under specific conditions. Most of the mushrooms are sold to distributors who then market to stores and restaurants. Some are air-shipped to Chicago, Texas and Atlanta.
