Here at The Local Farmer, we aren’t just growing microgreens. We are also caring for and fruiting a range of mushrooms that will add amazing flavour and texture to your meals. If you like meals having something extra special in them, then you have come to the right place, because we are growing an exciting collection of delicious gourmet mushrooms.
Delicious to eat
If you are looking for something different from your normal idea of what mushrooms taste like, then the oyster mushroom is something to try! The oyster mushroom is actually a whole genus of mushrooms, called pleurotus. There are more than 40 different edible species in this genus, with different colours. The pink, yellow, white, grey, and king varieties are what we will be selling. These mushrooms lack the deep, earthy flavour that most mushrooms have, instead they are mild and sweet, making them a perfect complement to a wide range of dishes. Add them to rice, stir-fries, pasta or a stew for a different flavour and texture in your meals, along with a healthy amount of fibre, vitamins and minerals. You can even saute them in olive oil and garlic as a side dish, or chop them up in gravy. Vegetarians often use oyster mushrooms, especially the king oyster, for their meaty texture and umami flavour.
[Pullquote: Did you know that mushrooms are the only natural plant source of vitamin D?]
The shiitake mushroom is an edible mushroom that has taken the world by storm. This East Asian mushroom is cultivated around the world now, thanks to its rich umami flavour. Shiitake cultivation now makes up 25% of the yearly production of mushrooms. Both fresh and dried shiitake are used in cooking. From miso soup to an ingredient in steamed and simmered dishes, it can also be sauteed. If you are looking for a low-calorie ingredient with many vitamins and minerals, you can’t go wrong with shiitake mushrooms!
Shiitake mushrooms are also used in traditional medicines in China, Japan, Korea, and Eastern Russia. They are said to boost the immune system, improve health and longevity, improve circulation and may protect against cancer and inflammation. However, many of the studies into the uses were animal studies or test tube studies, which generally test doses far exceeding what you could eat, or even get in a supplement. It is promising information, so hopefully, further research in the field happens soon!
Future expansion
In the future, we aim to expand our growing operations with even more mushrooms. The ones we have selected are mostly used for medicinal purposes. Keep an eye out for reishi, lion’s mane and turkey tail mushrooms soon! Here are some of the uses of these interesting fungi.
The Lingzhi or reishi mushroom is known as the “mushroom of immortality” and the Ganoderma mushroom has been in use for over 2,000 years, though we aren’t sure which species were used specifically. A 16th-century Chinese herbal compendium called the Bencao Gangmu lists several lingzhi-like mushrooms with different purposes, defined by the colours of the mushroom. Most Chinese herb shops stock red reishi, though 10 other Ganoderma species see sale.
Regardless of which one was used 2,000 years ago, reishi is considered an alternative cancer treatment medicine in the East. Over in the West, the mushroom hasn’t been recognised as an effective treatment for cancer or cardiovascular disease, but many people are flocking to traditional and alternative medicines.
The turkey tail mushroom, or Trametes versicolor, is a great source of Polysaccharide-K, which is safe for use as an augmentation for cancer treatment in Japan, where it has been used since the mid-1970s.
This extract is sold in some countries as a dietary supplement, which can cause adverse effects like diarrhoea, darkened faeces, or darkened fingernails. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has prevented companies from selling PSK supplements listed as anti-cancer or immune therapy drugs. Interestingly, the FDA does not require approval of dietary supplements with the same scrutiny as medicines, as they are classified as foods, so many alternative medicines are sold as dietary supplements in the states.
There are clinical studies of using PSK in conjunction with chemotherapy, but its efficacy is currently inconclusive, though some showed promising results. In traditional Chinese medicine, the turkey tail is used to treat pulmonary diseases.
The lion’s mane, or Hericium erinaceus, is used as both a gourmet mushroom and for medicinal purposes. In cooking, the flavour is often compared to lobster or crab, and many see this ingredient as a functional food, providing more than nutrition.
For medical use, lion’s mane is said to help with dementia, relieve stress and anxiety, help repair nervous system damage, protect against ulcers, and reduce heart disease risk. Other supplements use lion’s mane to manage diabetes by lowering blood sugars, fighting cancer cells, reducing inflammation, and as an antioxidant.
As you can see, we have quite a few different mushrooms available, with some exciting ones fruiting shortly. We hope that you find something to your liking to add to a dish, or you are willing to experiment and open yourself up to the various possibilities and tastes that these delicious morsels add to a meal.