Suppliers to The Lodge kitchen in Canberra, Michele and Gary Akers from Shoalhaven Mushrooms took out top honours at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, winning all three categories they entered, as well as claiming the champion ribbon for Best Mushroom in Show.

Michele said it was the first time the Termeil organic mushroom growers had entered the Sydney show.

“We were invited to represent the southern district and thought we’d give it a go,” she said.

“We had no idea that one of the judges would be the CEO of the Mushroom Association of Australia.

“We entered our white, flat and Swiss Browns, winning all three categories and our Swiss Browns won the Best Mushroom on Show.”

Michele said she didn’t expect the couple’s “little tiny farm” to be in the running for a prize.

“We were blown away by the feedback from the judges - they loved our mushrooms,” she said.

The flats scored a mark of 92 per cent, while the Swiss Browns achieved 94 per cent.

Michele said the mushrooms received top marks for having no blemishes, no disease and for being a consistent weight and symmetrical shape.

The mushrooms are grown year round in eight purpose-built, state-of-the-art growing rooms on the Akers’ property.

The growers use the best straw in the country and import disease-free peat from Holland.

As well as supplying The Lodge kitchen, Shoalhaven Mushrooms sell their produce at the Canberra Growers Market, Kiama Markets and hope to have a stall at the proposed Thursday night Growers Market in Ulladulla.

They also supply mushrooms for many restaurants in the Ulladulla district and South Coast region.

Representatives of the Mushroom Association are set to visit the farm in the coming weeks to inspect the local set-up.