The popularity of different species and varieties of mushrooms has increased in the past few years. The most popular variety, Agaricus bisporus, has three different strains. All are similar in holding quality and shelf life, differeing basically in color. White, off-white and dark brown are the common colors.
White mushrooms dominate the fresh market.
Other mushroom varieties whose popularity is increasing include enoki, pleurotus and shiitake. Enoki mushrooms are creamy white with long slender stems that are topped with small round caps. They are mild flavored mushrooms with a slightly sweet taste and can be used fresh or cooked. Pleurotus mushrooms, also know as oyster mushrooms, are grayish brown with a delicate flavor and texture. The shiitake mushroom is a large, umbrella-shaped mushroom that is dark brown.