urban gourmet farms
January 17, 2021
Feel Good Meals loves businesses that love food. We are so lucky to live in a community where we can enjoy all different kinds of foods and beverages, and even work with some of the best food and beverage businesses in town! We love Urban Gourmet Farms, and they love Feel Good Meals. Read on to learn more about where we are getting this week’s local shiitake mushrooms.
Who are the growers?
Hiram is a Florida native who, after a tour in the US Navy, finally settled in North Carolina. He developed a passion for gourmet in his next 15 years in the fine dining industry, but he always kept alive his dream of bringing something more to the table. In more recent years, he experimented with cultivating gourmet mushrooms for personal use, and he quickly realized he should share the fruit of his labor with the community.
What is the growing process?
There are different techniques in mushroom cultivation, but from the largest automated farm in China to the individual D.I.Y. hobbyist in their basement, the fundamental steps in growing a mushroom are the same! Spores connect to form mycelium which then grows and begins to decompose matter. Once the conditions in the environment become optimal, the fruiting body (mushroom) forms. Depending on the varietal, this process could take a couple of months to a year.
In nature, mycelium has to battle with bacteria and other invasive organisms which can devastate its growth. With pasteurization of substrate and sterilization of equipment these contaminates can be combated. Although, on occasion, contamination does happen, but with steps in place the spread of contaminants can be contained.
Urban Gourmet Farm’s mushrooms are grown in bags which fruit in a humidity and temperature controlled environment. Mycelium from the lab inoculates pasteurized grain in jars until fully colonized. Additionally, all the mushrooms produced on their farm are grown on all natural mediums. Shiitake are grown on a blend of hard wood saw dust and bran, while most of the other varietals are grown on a saw dust and soy bean whole mix. They are actively researching other types of substrates to grow their mushrooms, like using spent wheat from a brewery or spent coffee grounds. Once the mushroom bags come to the end of their fruiting cycle, they are then converted to nutrient rich compost.
Where can you find them?
548 Providence Rd
S Charlotte, NC 28217
*Visits by appointment only.
Why do we love Urban Gourmet Farms?
What's not to love about sustainably grown, local, delicious mushrooms? You’ll know what we mean when you try their shiitake mushrooms in this week’s Grilled Pork Loin Marsala & Paleo Grilled Teriyaki Chicken Breast.
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