Howard Berk has deep mushroom roots. Early on, the Georgia-based Berk experimented with increasing mushrooms on bathroom paper and get in touch with books, ahead of turning his hobby in mycology into the 2 A laugh Guys home-growing kits.
Now, Ellijay Mushrooms has change into the following degree in Berk’s adventure. Located on the base of the Appalachian Mountains in Ellijay, Georgia, the undertaking targets to offer attention-grabbing shiitake and lion’s mane mushrooms to cooks, retail outlets and residential chefs alike.
Taking a second out from mushroom tasks, we spoke to Berk concerning the enchantment of mushroom powder and the calls for of seeking to be a mushroom genie. We additionally touched at the development of the use of shiitake mushrooms in bourbon.
DIY Mushroom Rising Trials
“Ever since I suppose when my children have been more youthful, I’ve at all times preferred increasing other mushrooms,” recollects Berk. “I’ve discovered learn how to develop them on bathroom paper, telephone books and cardboard—kinda simply studying about mycology at the moment. You’ll be able to develop oyster mushrooms on telephone books beautiful simply.”
Development From the Flooring Up
A protracted-standing hobby in gardening ended in Berk serving to to put in a lawn in his children’ faculty. “That roughly began my actual interest for it,” explains Berk as he seems again over his farming journey up to now.
“I helped get started a farmer’s marketplace right here in Georgia 13 years in the past, met my first mushroom spouse there and created 2 A laugh Guys,” he continues. “The ones are the kits the place you are taking the plugs and inoculate it. To make a protracted tale quick, 5 years in the past my new trade spouse discovered me via 2 A laugh Guys and we began Ellijay Mushrooms to offer eating places, grocery retail outlets and folks such as you and me.”
The Mushroom Genie
Early on, Berk says that “working out the timings and the scalings and logistics” was once the trickiest a part of launching Ellijay Mushrooms.
“I kinda had no clue what was once truly occurring,” he admits. “So we kinda simply dived in head first and discovered trial via fireplace. How do you stay alongside of manufacturing and bet what your consumers need to order forward of time? It’s like being a mushroom genie, so that you can discuss. You’re seeking to are expecting the long run!”
The Pleasure of Lion’s Mane
On the subject of probably the most unique mushrooms that Berk grows, he says lion’s manes at all times catch the attention first. “We’re simply in a large section for lion’s manes at the moment. Then the second is our shiitakes as a result of they’re so thick and meaty and glance very plump. Most of the people simply see their shiitakes on the retailer being flat and having no texture.”
Mushroom Bourbon!
“The new development is a large number of persons are the use of our shiitakes with bourbon, whiskey or rum,” says Berk when requested about leading edge tactics he’s noticed cooks incorporate his mushrooms into menus. “We’re seeing a large alternate within the remaining six months of the use of them for spirits after which pairing them with the mushrooms they’re cooking for foods. So we’re enjoying with bringing a shiitake spirit to the marketplace.”
“Each chef does one thing other and inventive,” provides Berk. “Like they could make a shiitake bacon or carry it down and dry out the shiitakes and use a powder to make a creme brûlée topping.”
Practice Ellijay Mushrooms at Instagram.