Anyone who has been to a green market lately can't help but notice there is a fungus among us. Mushrooms of all sizes and shapes have been cropping up throughout Florida, bringing with them a growing number of fungi fans. From flavorful varieties coveted by local chefs to coffees and medicinal tinctures, to promising new research in the treatment of depression, mushrooms are making their mark all over the state.
Jor'El Schustrin, owner of Stropharia Mushroom Farm, knew very little about mushrooms when he watched a TED Talk by Paul Stamets, a mycologist widely considered a leading authority on the study of mushrooms, in 2015. "His big study is with Lion's Mane mushroom, and it shows it promotes nerve growth in the brain and helps with cognitive focus," says Schustrin. His stepfather had recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, and Schustrin wondered if mushrooms could help.
Schustrin ordered some mushroom supplements from Stamets's company and, before long, his stepfather reduced his daily pills from 15 to three by taking the supplements daily. While the benefits were great, so was the cost.
"It started getting really expensive, so I bought mushroom kits that you could grow at home," said Schustrin. He started growing mushrooms in his condo, and soon his hobby grew. "The mushrooms overtook my condo. They went from the guest bedroom to the closets to the rest of the house."
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