A SPREYTON fungi business is mushrooming. Twelve new growing rooms will soon be popping up to expand the production capacity of the Tasmanian Mushrooms farm at Spreyton. It's a $3million investment and will result in creating 30 new jobs, Adelaide-based, Tasmanian Mushrooms chairman Douglas Schirripa said yesterday. The farm has been located at the same site at Spreyton for 45 years. Since it was taken over by Adelaide Mushrooms Pty Ltd 28 years ago it has grown from a 2000kg a week growing operation, to one producing an incredible 22,000kg a week. "We bought the old farm at Spreyton and developed and expanded it because mushrooms are quite perishable and it's good to grow them close to the market," Mr Schirripa said. "Some of our new Adelaide computer control systems and air technology will be implemented at our Tassie farms when we build on new rooms." Huon Valley Mushrooms at Glen Huon is also owned by Mr Schirripa, where the more exotic varieties are grown, whereas Spreyton produces the common white and brown mushrooms. "It's a fallacy that today's consumer will go out and buy them (the more exotic varieties)," he said. "People like the idea of it, but would rather eat exotic mushroom varieties when they are in a restaurant or hotel - that's the biggest exotics market for us. "We currently employ 70 people at Spreyton, which will increase to about 100 after the 12 new growing rooms have been added. "We hope to start building by about June and have the rooms finished by the end of the year. "We supply 100% of Tasmanian mushrooms to Coles, Woolworths, IGA and local greengrocers." Mr Schirripa said better promotion of eating mushrooms is boosting demand. "We have developed new mushroom recipes for our consumers. "TV chef Fast Ed is one of our ambassadors promoting mushrooms to consumers through the Australian Mushroom Growers, which I am chairman of."