SA Mushroom Farmers’ Association introduced the annual October Pink Punnet promotion with Pick ‘n Pay in 2012 to raise national awareness of the positive link between mushroom consumption and the reduction of breast cancer, as shown in many international research studies.
The pink punnets are sold annually in Pick n Pay stores nationwide during October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
R1 from each pink punnet sold goes to the breast cancer support group Reach for Recovery (R4R). The group focuses on helping women from low-income categories who do not have access to medical or support services. The proceeds has benefitted more than 1000 disadvantaged women from around South Africa including Johannesburg, Pretoria, Cape Town, East London, Port Elizabeth, Uitenhage, Vaal Triangle, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, West Rand, Ekhurlweni, Kimberley and Bloemfontein.
SA Mushroom Farmers’ Association uses the initiative to create national awareness of the cancer-fighting benefits of mushrooms that, in the end, should benefit the entire mushroom industry.
SA Mushroom Farmers’ Association’s annual Rising Stars competition offers young chefs from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to showcase their culinary skills in a cook-off held in Johannesburg. The competition is aimed at finding new ways to cook with mushrooms, as well as address socio-economic issues on a regional level.
While edible mushrooms such as the white button and brown mushroom are well-known on the modern South African menu, exotic mushrooms such as...