The topic of mushroom nutrition, especially as a substitute for nutrient-rich meats, has been a central theme to vegetarians and vegans for some time, but, according to this article from only early 2020, the “exotic” mushroom industry has been seeing a boom over the past several years that has excited many producers. There is certainly an ever growing awareness of the dangers of doing the same thing (and expecting different results), and partnering with fungi and with mushrooms in every aspect of our lives is something we as a species haven’t yet fully embraced.
Mushrooms are the nutrient dense fruit bodies of the mycelial mat--the true body of the fungus--that covers vast areas of ground below us—in some cases measured in hundreds of acres rather than square feet. These dense networks of single-cell thick tubes have been estimated to comprise of up to 8km of fibers within a single cubic centimeter of soil. Like our own nervous system or circulation system touching every cell in our bodies, the mycelium is able to access every part of the forest, transferring nutrients from tree to tree, and using sophisticated trading programs that seem to behave more like capitalism, rather than a simple release and absorb protocol that we have ascribed to nature. Fungi regulates the literal health of an ecosystem. Though it seemed a fantasy at the time, the images of the mother tree with roots connecting the whole earth in James Cameron’s movie “Avatar” wasn’t that far off. A new project launched in 2021 now aims to map this vast network of fungal fibers–estimated to cover astronomical distances.
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Zachary Hunter
Zachary Hunter is a lifelong devotee to flavor, a professionally trained chef who has been obsessed with mushrooms and uncovering the unknown with regards to edible mushroom chemistry and physiology. He is a member of the NAMA's (North American Mycological Association) Culinary Committee. He lives in Oaxaca, Mexico with his wife Kimberly Hunter--known collectively as the "Mushroom Hunters"--where they offer experiential immersions: artisan-maker intensives as Traveling Traders Bazaar and Mushroom adventures as The Fungivore. 2024 will be their sixth season curating adventures together in Mexico. Learn more at TheFungivore.com or TravelingTradersBazaar.com Archives
April 2024
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