Mushroom Council announces newly elected board members and officers

At its February 11 meeting in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, the Mushroom Council welcomed one new board member and elected its officers for 2026. The nine-member Council is composed of eight domestic growers and one importer representing four regions. The program's purpose is to maintain and expand existing mushroom markets and uses. The newly elected board member is Ed Wuensch (Region 2); Michael Stephan, Monterey Mushrooms (Region 1) was reappointed for a second term.

© Mushroom Council
At the Mushroom Council's board meeting last month, the group toured a farm in Mexico.

Newly elected officers are:

• Chairperson: Pat Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms
• Vice Chairperson: Laura Matar, Giorgio Mushrooms
• Secretary: Jack Guan, Terra Garden/Guan's Mushroom
• Treasurer: Ed Wuensch, Basciani Foods

The officers' responsibilities include supporting the Council's development and implementation of an annual research, marketing and promotions plan, and ensuring the Council manages and follows its annual budget.

© Mushroom Council
The council's board meeting attendee dinner last month.

The full board currently includes representatives from several regions. In Region 1, which covers all states except California and Pennsylvania, Pat Jurgensmeyer of J-M Farms and Michael Stephan of Monterey Mushrooms are serving, with one position still open. Region 2, representing Pennsylvania, includes Tina Ellor of Phillips Mushroom Farms, Laura Matar of Giorgio Mushrooms, Chris Alonzo of Pietro Industries, and Ed Wuensch of Basciani Foods. In Region 3, which covers California, Jack Guan of Terra Garden/Guan's Mushroom holds the seat. Region 4, representing importers, currently has an open position.

A call for nominations is now open for upcoming three-year terms that will begin on January 1, 2027. Completed nomination forms must be submitted by email or postmarked no later than May 1, 2026. The available positions include one seat in Region 1 (all states except California and Pennsylvania), one seat in Region 2 (Pennsylvania), and one seat in Region 4 (importers).

All producers, who produce, on average, over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually for fresh use and are not exempt may nominate one or more candidates, provided that they produce within the specified region.

To qualify as a candidate or to nominate a candidate, an individual must be a producer. Producer means any person engaged in the production of mushrooms who owns or shares the ownership and risk of loss of such mushrooms and who produces, on average, over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms per year for the fresh market and not exempt from paying assessments.