Mushrooms grow from a stem. They have a cap and between the cap and stem is a membrane called the veil. A closed veil is a sign of a young mushroom, and with maturity the veil opens. Some of these mushrooms are grown in Florida, particularly in North Florida around the Quincy area. Commercially grown mushrooms have become one of the alternate agricultural crops for shade tobacco, abundantly produced in Gadsden County during earlier years.
White mushrooms are also available canned plain whole or sliced, marinated or pickled.
Fresh mushrooms are cholesterol, fat and sodium free. They are low in calories and an excellent source of riboflavin, and a good source of niacin, copper and pantothenate. When stored properly, mushrooms will remain fresh for 5 - 7 days. Store prepackaged mushrooms in their original container in your refrigerator, but keep bulk mushrooms in a brown paper bag. The bag allows them to breathe so they will stay fresher longer.