Levin mushroom farmers Jude Horrill and Brent Williams have created a special blend of coffee that they claim might offer health benefits. The couple, who left their corporate jobs in IT and change management overseas for a quieter life in the countryside, are now branching out into powdered supplements.
Their company, Ohau Gourmet Mushrooms, has been producing oyster and shiitake mushrooms for the past eight years in Horowhenua. Horrill described the experience as a brilliant journey, as they have spent nearly a decade building their organic permaculture business and selling fresh produce at farmers markets.
Recently, faced with the cost of living crisis, they brainstormed ways to revamp their business and increase sales. This led them to explore the brain-boosting benefits of exotic mushrooms like lion's mane and cordyceps.
They worked to secure a reliable source of these mushroom extracts, which cannot be grown in New Zealand. "So we have a food import license and we're importing from a very high-quality producer," Horrill said.
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