The 2024 China Edible and Medicinal Mushroom Industry Regional Brand Value Evaluation Ranking was unveiled on April 14 at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Edible Fungi Full Industry Chain (Xiamen) Innovation Expo in Xiamen, Fujian province.

Four brands from Lishui in East China's Zhejiang province – Longquan lingzhi mushroom, Longquan lingzhi mushroom spore powder, Longquan black fungus, and Qingyuan shiitake – secured top spots.

The comprehensive ranking, released by the China Chamber of Commerce of Import and Export of Foodstuffs, Native Produce, and Animal By-Products, evaluates 164 regional edible fungi brands of national geographic indication products across eight categories.

The Longquan lingzhi mushroom led the ganoderma category with a brand value of 5.87 billion yuan ($803.28 million), while Longquan lingzhi mushroom spore powder ranked third at 2.51 billion yuan. Qingyuan shiitake achieved second in the shiitake category with a value of 14.64 billion yuan. Longquan black fungus was 10th in the fungus category, valued at 2.23 billion yuan.

A lingzhi mushroom cultivation base in Lishui, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

The edible mushroom industry plays a pivotal role in the economy of Longquan, a county-level city in Lishui. In 2024, its production of log-grown lingzhi mushrooms reached 150,000 cubic meters. Additionally, the city has established 171 demonstration cultivation bases of black fungus.

The city has also developed a number of innovative products, including lingzhi mushroom spore powder capsules and lingzhi-based cosmetics.

Qingyuan shiitake is a flagship brand of Qingyuan county in Lishui, with recent innovations in mushroom breeding and a fully integrated industry chain boosting output. In 2024, the county's edible fungi industry reached a value of 5.8 billion yuan.