Vanuatu continues to offer clear commercial advantages for large-scale mushroom production:

This expanded investment multiplies production, revenue, and supply capacity, while still benefiting from extremely low local competition.

A large-scale facility requires approximately 400–550 m², including:

• 8–10 semi-underground fruiting rooms

• Multiple incubation and spawn-run rooms

• Large pasteurisation and compost preparation area

• Dedicated packaging and dispatch section

• Walk-in cold storage (large capacity)

• High-efficiency ventilation and climate systems

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Spawn Run: 2–3 weeks

➡️ 400–600 kg per week (4× standard production)

➡️ 20,000–30,000 kg per year

This volume positions the farm as Vanuatu’s leading mushroom supplier with capacity to service supermarkets, resorts, cruise shipments, and retail distribution.

To establish a high-volume commercial button mushroom farm, the estimated capital cost is:

• Excavation and structural concrete for 8–10 fruiting rooms

• Multiple incubation and pasteurisation chambers

• Expanded composting/preparation building

• Reinforced insulated roofing

• Ventilation shafts and controlled entry system

• High-capacity cold storage (walk-in chiller)

• Industrial-grade humidification systems

• High-power ventilation and air-exchange units

• HEPA-filtered fresh-air intake system

• Environmental control automation

• Rack systems for 8–10 growing rooms

• Large commercial steam generator

• Backup generators and surge protection

• Bulk grain spawn imports

• Large-volume substrate components (straw, manure, gypsum)

• Packaging trays, punnets, and labeling

• High-volume sanitation supplies

• 1× refrigerated delivery vehicle (optional, recommended)

• Commercial-grade scales and packing tables

• Water storage & filtration system

• Heavy-duty compost mixers (optional upgrade)

This expanded investment builds a facility capable of dominant market share in Vanuatu.

With increased scale, operating expenses rise proportionally:

➡️ USD $60,000–$90,000 per year

• Skilled labour (4–6 workers)

• Spawn imports and substrate preparation

• Utilities — cooling, climate control, water

• Packaging and logistics

• Delivery and distribution

• Facility maintenance and cleaning

• Biosecurity compliance

Despite increased costs, economies of scale significantly improve profitability.

With weekly output of 400–600 kg, revenue expands substantially.

• Wholesale: 1,600–2,200 VT/kg

• Retail/supermarket: 2,000–3,500 VT/kg

With strong branding and reliable weekly supply, premium pricing becomes achievable.

The expanded facility can serve:

Ramada, Warwick, Holiday Inn, Iririki, Le Lagon, private islands.

Cafés, bars, Japanese & Western dining venues.

Au Bon Marché, K2, ANZAC, Pacific Supplies.

• Cruise ships departing from Port Vila

• Processing/packaging for airline catering

• Fresh vegetable distributors

• Neighboring islands

This scale leads to long-term contracted supply relationships.

The production principles remain the same, but the systems are industrialised:

• Fruiting: 16–19°C

• High humidity: 85–95%

• Fresh-air exchange per room

• Central automation for climate control

• Large-scale compost production or bulk import

• High-capacity pasteurisation chamber

• Strict contamination control

• Continuous rotation scheduling

• Weekly harvesting cycles

• Multi-room rapid turnover

A well-run facility can achieve very high efficiency and stable yields.

The larger the farm, the more important process discipline becomes — but the benefits scale accordingly.

The large farm supports:

Future expansions may include:

• Ready-to-cook mushroom products

• Packaged sliced mushrooms

• Specialty varieties (oyster, shiitake, portobello)

• Retail branding for supermarkets