I’m joined by Andrew Carter, one of the co-founders of Smallhold, a beloved mushroom farm that is feeding people across America. Andrew’s agriculture journey started in vertical farming and eventually transitioned into growing mushrooms and a mission to feed the world with fungi. We discuss Smallhold’s evolution from a modest start up in a basement to locations around the country, the mushroom grow cycle, why mushroom farming is so important, and what he loves most about the growing mushroom community. 

I appreciate Andrew for his extensive knowledge on mushrooms, despite not considering himself a mycologist. Andrew shares valuable insights about various types of mushrooms and how they can teach us a lot on both personal and environmental levels. With the help of technology, mushrooms can now thrive in new spaces.
 
Andrew's mission with Smallhold involves encouraging people to consume more locally-sourced mushrooms and to explore and experiment with them. It is perfectly fine to cultivate mushrooms for food without having a complete understanding of them. The fact that there is still much to discover about mushrooms is what makes them so fascinating.

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your favorite podcast platform. 

Topics Covered: 

The mushroom revolution 

How Andrew got started with Smallhold and the company’s mission 

Why Andrew and his co-founder Adam started growing mushrooms out of a shipping container

The role of technology in mushroom farming

The collective obsession with mushrooms and their many benefits

Why mushrooms vary in color and size batch by batch and how this can be challenging to keep consistent 

Interesting experiences with mushrooms and misconceptions about fungi

Why people should eat more mushrooms 



Resources Mentioned:

Derek Sarno’s mushroom steak 

Telluride Mushroom Festival



Guest Info: 

Learn more about Smallhold: smallhold.com

Follow Smallhold on Instagram

Follow Andrew on Instagram



Follow Me:

Follow me on Instagram: @tonyapapanikolove 

Follow Rainbo on Instagram: @rainbomushrooms 

Shop Rainbo: rainbo.com