Meet 4 Fungi Farmers Growing The Phoenix Mushroom Market

Mushrooms are having a moment. The popularity of fungi appears to be reaching a fever pitch, fueled by wellness gurus, including Tucson's Andrew Weil, and appearances in pop culture, such HBO's zombie thriller "The Last of Us."

At Phoenix restaurants, mushrooms are showing up on plates that highlight their versatility, from flatbreads at MATCH Market to menudo at Tia Carmen. They're replacing coffee beans for morning brews and dairy in fresh baked breads. People are flocking to farmers markets for local mushrooms, sold fresh, dried and in liquid concentrates — or to purchase grow kits to cultivate their own.

"It does seem right now is like a zeitgeist for mushrooms," says Mike Dechter, who heads the Arizona Mushroom Society, a non-profit organization that offers education, dinners and events for "novices and experienced mushroom hunters alike," according to its website. The rising popularity and ensuing demand has led to a proliferation of mushroom farms across Arizona and local farmers point to a convergence of events, from growing interest in meat-free options and ways to improve one's health in the aftermath of the pandemic to intrigue sparked by the Netflix documentary "Fantastic Fungi."

The benefits of mushrooms have attracted fans from all corners of the cooking and health landscape — and the psychedelics community, too, but today we're talking about just food. Meet four local mushroom farmers who are fueling the fungus fascination in Phoenix.

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Lorian and John Roethlein founded Arizona Mushroom Co. In 2020.

Arizona Mushroom Co.

The Second-Actors John and Lorian Roethlein launched Arizona Mushroom Co. In 2020. The couple has been involved in several ventures during their 30 years of marriage, from running an engineering recruiting firm to founding the Payson Farmers Market. When looking for something new to tackle, John saw mushrooms as a triple win, as in a "win for me, a win for you and also a win for our environment," he says from their home in Payson, where they have converted their downstairs and garage into grow space. When they first started their company, John wanted to explore every potential capability of mushrooms, from environmental restoration to building materials.

Ultimately, the Roethleins decided to focus on what they knew from the farmers market: growing gourmet produce for Arizonans to cook at home. Arizona Mushroom Co. Can be found at markets in Payson, Flagstaff and Scottsdale (in the winter), as well as online. John and Lorian have gone from growing just shiitakes to producing seven different varieties and they harvest about 125 pounds of fungi each week. And after seeing an increased demand for lion's mane — touted for its medicinal properties, including boosting immune systems — they ramped up its cultivation.

"All of our different varieties have a different medicinal value," Lorian says.

In general, mushrooms are fat-free and a good source of B and D vitamins. They're also rich in antioxidants such as selenium. Specific varietals each carry additional, nuanced nutritional benefits. Mushrooms have been used throughout history as medicine, and part of their surging popularity is tied to research around the role that some types, such as reishi, turkey tail and maitake, may play in stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.

"People are absolutely thrilled to be able to take control of their health, to eat something that's great, to try something new, to impress their friends, to heal a chronic illness," John adds.

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Kevin Fitzgerald began growing mushrooms as a way to build a healthier lifestyle. When people at the farmers market see Sun Valley's mushrooms on display, it starts a conversation, he says.

Sara Crocker

The Homesteader One person who hoped that mushrooms would make a positive impact on their health was Kevin Fitzgerald. The self-described "culinary nut" loves to cook and was looking for a more holistic dietary option that would help him transition off cholesterol medication. He had always been an avid gardener — citrus and pomegranate trees dot the backyard of his Glendale home — so he decided to try his hand at cultivating mushrooms.

From there, Sun Valley Harvest was born. While Fitzgerald considered growing other items, such as microgreens, once he started down the mushroom rabbit hole, "fungi just took my life over," he says.

When selling his produce at Uptown Farmers Market, Fitzgerald often answers questions about which mushrooms to buy based on their medicinal benefits. Other customers are seeking to use mushrooms as a meat alternative.

"With my customers, they're looking for something new to try," he says.

Fitzgerald also loves showing people that mushrooms are more than the pale white buttons that are served on salads.

"There are mushrooms that taste like maple syrup," he says.

Sun Valley Harvest sells a variety of mushrooms, from oyster to cordyceps, at markets and restaurants, including Merkin Vineyards and Prescott's Torme.

Sun Valley produces about 200 pounds of mushrooms each week, and Fitzgerald has brought his daughter and son-in-law into the business. He has dedicated a shed, garage, room and closet to Sun Valley Harvest — and he plans to add onto his house to continue to expand his urban mushroom farm.

"I consider this a homestead, and it's a lifestyle," Fitzgerald says.

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Today, in addition to growing mushrooms for individuals and restaurants, Southwest Mushrooms provides cultures and spawn for other mushroom farmers and for grow kits that the company sells online.

Sara Crocker

The Professor Michael Crowe launched Southwest Mushrooms in 2017. After more than a decade of personal interest and growing mushrooms as a hobby, he decided to follow his dream to start a company that he couldn't find elsewhere in the Valley.

He's since become somewhat of a fungi godfather, teaching people in Arizona and beyond how to cultivate mushrooms through his YouTube channel, which has nearly 9 million views and 168,000 subscribers. During a pandemic pivot, he started selling mushrooms and grow kits online.

"I figure it's better to help people," Crowe says, explaining that part of his motivation is to empower people to grow their own food with very little space required.

His online sales have become a primary driver for his business and created an online community. Crowe also provides spawn – sterile grain that's been inoculated with mycelium, a rootlike structure that can sprout mushrooms – to farmers who are looking to start, maintain or expand their farms.

"Sharing the knowledge has been great," Crowe says.

A small warehouse space in Phoenix serves as Crowe's lab and farm. It is filled with grow tents that can produce around 500 pounds of mushrooms each week to sell to local restaurants, such as Giving Tree Cafe and Match Market & Bar, as well as individual customers who find Southwest Mushrooms at markets, including the Downtown Phoenix Farmers Market.

"Each mushroom has its own fan base," Crowe says.

When he's not farming, Crowe is exploring other uses of mushrooms that could improve the environment. For that study, "a lifetime isn't enough," Crowe says.

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Brian Hedger started Hypha Foods with blue oyster mushrooms. He is expanding the business to include microgreens and imported produce and meats.

Sara Crocker

The Economist Brian Hedger admits he initially was a mushroom skeptic, despite the fact that his family forages for the fungi in Oregon. But, he's always been fascinated by economics and how markets work. That fascination was why he was studying to get a business degree, but a job at Chandler-Gilbert Community College's garden changed everything.

The professor who ran the garden taught him about growing mushrooms, and they worked together to find a process that would allow oyster mushrooms to fruit more quickly.

"My dad thought I was crazy," Hedger recalls. "I thought this would pay for college."

Instead, he dropped out of school and quit his job to run Hypha Foods, which he launched in 2020. He sells mushrooms that he grows as well as ones that he imports, along with other coveted produce such as truffles, which also are mushrooms. His primary customers are chefs, and his mushrooms are used at Tarbell's, Anhelo, Wrigley Mansion and Tia Carmen.

Hedger is expanding beyond fungi, adding microgreens to a new space he's acquired in north Phoenix, which also will allow him to begin importing and processing meats. And he's in the process of buying land in Prescott where he can focus on growing gourmet crops on a larger scale.

Hypha has already branched out into Las Vegas, and Hedger hopes to expand to serve the rest of the southwest and position the U.S. As a competitor among produce categories dominated by Europe and Asia.

"With my love for economic theory and my passion for nature, I have a desire to enable everyone in the world to get ahold of these rare items," Hedger says.

Arizona's climate isn't one that first comes to mind for growing mushrooms, so those who do farm them focus on varieties that can be cultivated indoors mimicking conditions for decomposer fungi that fruit on or near trees, such as oyster, shiitake, turkey tail, pioppino and lion's mane. And while these four farmers may have come to the world of mushrooms differently – from looking for a change to looking to change the world – each is continuing to build a fungi farming movement of their own right here in the Valley.

What Is Solar Landscape Lighting?: Pros And Cons

When you think about harnessing the power of solar energy for your home, the cost point of solar panels may be intimidating. But, what about a low-cost way to use solar power? With solar powered landscape lights, it's possible to illuminate your outdoor space without connection to a power source—other than the sun.

Both easy to use and eco-friendly, solar landscape lighting can be a great way to add lighting to your home's exterior. Still, be sure to consider the possible disadvantages of solar landscape lighting to determine if it's the right choice.

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How Can Landscapes Use Solar Power?

Picture how solar panels operate on the roof of a home: By capturing energy from the sun's rays and converting it into electricity, solar panels can help keep the lights on inside the house—along with the other electrical needs. Solar powered landscape lights work much in the same way, only on a smaller scale.

Solar landscape lighting is available in numerous forms, from small walkway lights and floodlights to strands of bulbs and more. What they share in common is that all solar landscape lights use a small solar panel, which is often on the top of the lighting feature. Unlike grid-based electricity, solar power comes from a renewable resource. Shifting toward this is positive even if it's on the small scale of landscape lighting.

Landscape lighting can help improve your home's security, illuminate pathways, brighten outdoor living spaces and complement the overall landscaping. Solar powered landscape lights can do all of that with the added benefit of reducing utility costs and not relying on an electrical connection.

That makes adding solar landscape lighting a very simple DIY project for any homeowner. However, that doesn't mean solar landscape lighting is the right choice for every space.

Pros of Solar Powered Landscape Lights No Electrical Connection Needed

Because solar landscape lights are Easy to Install

If you want to install solar landscape lights, there's no need to call an electrician. Rather, the installation process should be as simple as assembling the light and then putting it in place, such as by staking it into the ground or hanging it. Because it takes a while for the solar charge to build, you won't be able to test the light right away. But, depending on the unit and the amount of sun that day, wait a few hours and you should be able to appreciate the new lighting effects.

Long-Term Savings Potential

Unlike with wired landscape lighting, solar powered landscape lighting won't affect your monthly utility bill. Those savings may seem minimal, but add up over time: For example, it could cost about $60 per year to power a 100-watt street light. If you use a solar version, that is an extra $60 you get to keep every year.

And, considering that solar landscape lighting can last for three to four years before you need to change batteries and even longer before you need to replace the LED bulbs, there is plenty of time to recoup the initial investment in solar powered landscape lights. Better yet, the cost of solar landscape lights continues to become more affordable as the technology advances.

Cons of Solar Powered Landscape Lights They Need Sunlight to Operate

The biggest catch with solar lighting is that the units depend on sunlight to work. Because the solar panels are generally built into the lights themselves, that means you will only be able to rely on consistent lighting when the lights are placed in areas where they receive good sunlight—which means dark corners, covered patios and more may not be good candidates for solar lighting.

Inconsistent Lighting

As most of us know, sunlight also isn't consistent from day to day. That means you may not get a good enough charge on a stormy day or on a day with shorter daylight hours; once the light is out, you'll need to wait until it charges up again the next day.

The illumination from solar powered lights generally isn't as strong as wired lights. If you are depending on the landscape lighting or security or safety purposes, you may want a more consistently reliable option, such as an electrical LED light.

Require Maintenance

To keep your solar powered landscape lights operating, the solar panel needs to be clear from debris, including leaves, snow and dirt. Although the lights themselves are quite long-lasting, that means you will need to check up on them regularly if you want to keep them in working condition.

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Bottom Line

You can consider solar powered landscape lighting on a case-by case-basis. These convenient, ready-to-use lights may work great in the part of your yard that gets consistent lighting. Then, you can stick with traditional lights in another part of the space that needs strong, consistent lighting.

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What Does Dak Prescott Need To Prove In 2023?

Dallas Cowboys starting quarterback Dak Prescott is entering a critical campaign. Arguably a top-10 regular-season quarterback, playoff success has been elusive for Prescott. Prescott must lead his Cowboys to an NFC Championship Game in 2023 to debunk the narrative.

Last season's divisional-round defeat to the San Francisco 49ers remains fresh in everyone's mind. Prescott struggled mightily in that contest, completing 23-of-37 passing attempts for 206 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions. It represented yet another disappointment for professional football's most popular (and desperate) franchise. Since winning Super Bowl XXX, the Cowboys haven't advanced back to the NFC Championship Game since. They've posted an unbelievable record of 0-7 in the divisional round. 

Prescott has been at the forefront of some of those shortcomings. The former Mississippi State standout has posted a record of just 2-4 in the postseason. Prescott has completed 63.4% of his passing attempts, approximately 3% lower than his regular season mark (66.6%).

The 2022 Cowboys struggled to cope with the departure of Amari Cooper along with other offensive role players. The 2021 roster was seen as a more complete team but suffered defeat at home in the wild-card round to those pesky 49ers. 

The 2023 Cowboys are better set up to achieve postseason success. Jerry Jones left no stone unturned. Jones' never-ending pursuit of another Super Bowl led to an aggressive offseason. 

Cooper's exit was finally addressed via the acquisition of Brandin Cooks. Together, Cooks should form a fearsome one-two punch with CeeDee Lamb.

Just days before acquiring Cooks, the Cowboys also traded for five-time Pro Bowl cornerback Stephon Gilmore. Gilmore, a former Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots, adds championship pedigree to a hungry Cowboys squad. Gilmore joins a defense that's loaded with playmakers such as Trevon Diggs and Micah Parsons.

The Cowboys have appropriately reloaded to make another run at a Super Bowl. Their offseason dealings have surrounded Prescott with one of the most talented rosters he's seen since arriving in Dallas. Dealing with the departures of Ezekiel Elliott and Dalton Schultz is a challenge Prescott must navigate, but the current supporting cast leaves no excuses. The pieces are in place.

The NFC is also a wide-open conference. The retirement of Tom Brady and a trade that sent Aaron Rodgers to the AFC have weakened the overall landscape. The Cowboys' biggest threat to a Super Bowl comes from within the division via the defending conference champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Winning the division is crucial to earning the NFC's No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the postseason. The Eagles bested the Cowboys in 2022 and have the firepower to contend for another Super Bowl. The Cowboys don't need to be reminded of the threat Kyle Shanahan's 49ers pose, but San Francisco must sort through quite the quarterbacking conundrum before challenging to hoist the Lombardi.

Financial motivation will be present for Prescott too, who has two seasons remaining on a previously signed four-year, $160 million contract extension. An extension would be fruitful for both parties—Prescott would receive long-term security and the Cowboys could receive immediate cap relief by lowering Prescott's cap charge. Prescott will have to earn an extension via postseason success.

Prescott possesses every tool necessary to lead the Cowboys to a Super Bowl. The supporting cast, both on offense and defense, has arguably never been stronger. The conference is almost certainly at its weakest since Prescott's inception. It's officially put-up-or-shut-up time for a desperate Prescott in Dallas.

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