Berthoud Local was formed by a grassroots group of neighbors passionate about providing access to locally-produced food. By highlighting local farmers and food producers, we aim to improve the resilience and economy of the town.
Crown Mushrooms
Website: crownmushrooms.com
Crown Mushrooms is located on the East side of Berthoud tucked behind some residences. Most of the farming happens indoors with the exception of storing and preparing straw. This is the third year we have been growing mushrooms and we grow all year long.
What do you produce/grow?
We grow Oyster mushroom varieties on locally sourced wheat straw, with sustainable non-chemical practices that minimize our energy footprint. Wheat straw is disinfected with a water and mineral process and formed into long poly bag columns where mushroom cells, or mycelium are introduced. We allow the mushroom mycelium to grow in a dark controlled environment for several weeks then move them into controlled environment fruiting chambers to sprout and fruit mushrooms. We will harvest three fruitings of oyster mushrooms from the columns.
We aim at zero waste. We sell all the highest grade produce to restaurants, through
independent markets and small food distribution companies. Mushrooms grow quickly, but only last a few hours to days when they are in their prime so any we cant sell in a timely manner are donated to Vindeket Foods in Fort Collins. We dehydrate trimmings and mill them into mushroom flour for energy bars and hot chocolate drink mixes. Our latest product is mushroom jerky, King Frog.
After we grow three cycles of mushroom fruitings off our straw substrate bags we return our growing medium back to the earth as soil amendment so that the mycelium and spent wheat straw will continue go back to the earth. . Local gardeners, market farms and a vermicomposting start up purchase them for a minimal donation where they will continue to fruit a few mushrooms given the right conditions. People can find our spent mushroom column ad on FB Market if they are interested in the garden soil amendment. Proceeds do fund our “Farm Hand Hydration program”.
Where can consumers get your product?
Our products are available for sale though our website crownmushrooms.com and gokingfrog.com
Favorite thing about Berthoud:
We love being part of the Berthoud community. Much of our facility is maintained or controlled by systems run by a couple farm hands/mechanical engineers/fabricators. We find most of what we need downtown, whether its parts to rebuild an exhaust fan or refreshments. At the end of the day. The wheat straw we grow our mushrooms on is found close by, many times just on the edge of town.
Upcoming events:
Look for our latest product King Frog Jerky, which will release next month. We have a pretty wide interest in local stores and some national distribution networks.
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