Mushroom farming is a growing enterprise in Oklahoma. Fueled by his passion for them, Jacob DeVecchio, founder of Oklahoma Fungi, is the self-established head of fungi education in the state.
“Mushroom farming is quite common in Oklahoma,” he said. J-M Farms in Miami, Oklahoma, produces roughly 28 million pounds of mushrooms per year, he said. “Now it is getting into the hands of smaller producers. I have really been encouraging them to reduce the waste and increase the soil nutrition, as well as our food nutrition, to help everyone and earth at the same time.”
DeVecchio described a stigma surrounding mushrooms as having a bad taste. “Most people don’t have deliciously cooked mushrooms. They just have a button mushroom that is maybe lightly sautéed with a little bit of salt and pepper, but there are many other great ways to prep mushrooms.”
He said one of the most common methods of cooking morel mushrooms in Oklahoma is breaded and fried, but he said they can also be stuffed with mozzarella beforehand to mimic a cheese stick.
“I always tell people that if they like button mushrooms, there are so many more species that you will love,” De-Vecchio shared. “And if you don’t like button mushrooms, then don’t worry about it. You can try lots of others that have different profiles and textures, etc.”
Lion’s mane mushrooms, along with others, have recently been growing in popularity for use in health supplements and more, he said. “The lion’s mane mushroom is named for the way it looks, and it is really great for your brain, your gut, and for the soil,” DeVecchio said. “These mushrooms not only provide benefits while they are growing, but while you are eating them they add nutritional benefits to your diet.”
DeVecchio described a Ready to Fruit kit for inspired mushroom growers to get started. The kit comes ready to grow so the cultivator only needs to cut an “X” in the package and begin growing their own mushroom. “This is the easiest way.”
Growing mushrooms can add value to operations at established farms, DeVecchio said.
“Mushrooms can grow off of a lot of agricultural byproducts, so you can incorporate some of the byproducts and natural waste into feeding mushrooms instead of composting it, or save some money by incorporating them into your diet. You will also save some waste from the farm and increase the ability for the organic matter to go back into your soil to help your other crops.”
One valuable mushroom, the cordyceps militaris, has received a lot of attention from the TV show “The Last of Us.” It is reputed by athletes to help increase energy and stamina and has anti-inflammatory effects and antioxidant activity. It commands a relatively high price compared to other common mushrooms due to its limited availability and cultivation challenges.
While all mushrooms can be used in some ways, many are poisonous; according to DeVecchio, there is no way to discern a poisonous mushroom based on its characteristics.
“When it comes to identifying a poisonous mushroom, the only way is either with a field test kit to check for toxins inside of it or to send it off for DNA sequencing, so that is why we say, ‘When in doubt, throw the mushroom out.’ Even if you know what the name of the mushroom is, we still recommend getting a second opinion from a mushroom forager, like me, or from someone you think is trustworthy,” DeVecchio cautioned.
More information can be found at OklahomaFungi.com. The organization offers free cultivation classes, foraging classes, fermentation classes, and more.