Mushroom Magic: How Smallhold's Visionary Startup is Transforming Agriculture and Nutrition

[et_pb_section fb_built="1" admin_label="section" _builder_version="4.16" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_row admin_label="row" _builder_version="4.21.0" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_column type="4_4" _builder_version="4.16" custom_padding="|||" global_colors_info="{}" custom_padding__hover="|||" theme_builder_area="post_content"][et_pb_text admin_label="Text" _builder_version="4.21.0" quote_font_size="27px" quote_line_height="1.1em" background_size="initial" background_position="top_left" background_repeat="repeat" custom_margin="|2px||2px|false|false" custom_padding="|||0px|false|false" hover_enabled="0" global_colors_info="{}" theme_builder_area="post_content" sticky_enabled="0"]We're all familiar with the butterfly effect, that mesmerizing concept of how a single butterfly's gentle wing flutter can set off a chain reaction with far-reaching consequences. Now, imagine a company that harnesses the astonishing power of something seemingly minuscule yet immensely potent: mushrooms. This week's featured startup, Smallhold, has taken these unassuming fungi and set in motion a transformative wave that ripples across our plates and our planet.Smallhold is a company with one goal in mind: feed Americans more mushrooms. Why? The answer is two fold. Firstly, there’s enormous nutritional value in mushrooms that many people don’t know about, like fiber, potassium, antioxidants, and the lesser known ergothioneine. Ergothioneine is a naturally occurring amino acid that has antioxidant properties used for boosting overall cell wellness. Also, mushrooms are low in calories and fat, making them an ideal addition to a balanced and healthy diet. With the recent increase in focus on healthy lifestyles in the US, this is perfect timing for Smallhold to present people with a variety of unique and tasty mushrooms in their local grocery stores. Fun fact of the day: fungi is actually its own biological kingdom, separate from plants and animals. Co-Founder Andrew Carter recalls what his fellow mycophiles (aka mushroom enthusiasts) have said, “this mystery with the fungi kingdom draws you in and inspires obsession.” Smallhold believes mushrooms can play a huge role in a better food system, and a better planet, which brings us to the second reason Smallhold wants to feed Americans more mushrooms. There is huge potential to improve farming practices.

Andrew Carter has always been obsessed with growing food indoors. He believes that with climate change, the need for innovation in agriculture has never been more important. After a decade in the agriculture industry, he and Co-Founder Adam DeMartino, founded Smallhold out of a shipping container in Brooklyn. They discovered that for growing food indoors, mushrooms are the ideal candidate. They don’t require a lot of light, are traditionally grown vertically, and require much tighter environmental controls, which makes growing outdoors tricky. Their mission-driven passion from the beginning has lended Smallhold to be as efficient, and thoughtful as possible through all aspects of their business. Whereas most mushrooms take at least 10 days to get from farm to grocery store, Smallhold's modular, vertical farms can be placed in various locations, including restaurants, grocery stores, and distribution centers. Meaning fresh mushrooms can be cultivated right where they are needed. This reduces transportation emissions and ensures customers have access to the freshest produce possible.Furthermore, compared to conventional farming practices, Smallhold's technology allows their farms to produce higher yields and quality, which is key for mitigating crop loss and overproduction. This means that Smallhold is cutting off the potential for waste from the start. Furthermore, their farms work to foster regenerative agricultural loops. They grow mushrooms on substrate (simply, the surface or material on which an organism lives, grows, and eats) primarily made of sawdust, which happens to be a waste byproduct of the lumber industry. Then, by working with networks of innovative partners and farmers, Smallhold creates unique composts and mixes that go back into the soil, supporting and enhancing soil fertility and ecological resilience. After their mushrooms are harvested, they're hand packed into Smallhold's compostable packaging, and 100% of their spent substrate is either composted or redistributed to their communities.

For Smallhold, just like the circle of life, the whole process of farming mushrooms is circular.

Smallhold has even collaborated with researchers on a mycoremediation project. Mycoremediation is a method using mushrooms' abundant enzymes to break down all sorts of pollutants. So, Smallhold uses this feature in waste streams from their farms to help break down oil issues like hydrocarbons and heavy metals. This could potentially highlight the benefit of using mushrooms to clean other polluted environments! Smallhold believes that agriculture must enhance both the environment and human health. After their humble founding in 2017, Smallhold now has farms all over the country and grocer partnerships with the likes of Safeway and Whole Foods.Smallhold's commitment to sustainability is not limited to their farming methods. Andrew and Adam recognize the urgent need to address environmental challenges in the food industry, such as deforestation, excessive water usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. By cultivating mushrooms, which are known for their low environmental impact compared to traditional livestock farming, Smallhold is making their contribution to reducing the ecological footprint of the food supply chain.

Clearly Adam and Andrew are in it for the mission. But to further put their money where their mushrooms are, Smallhold recently achieved B-Corp certification. This is huge, and you guys know I love a B-corp certified business (check out my Sezane article if you haven't read it yet). In his recent interview with Forbes, Andrew says, “We barely changed anything about Smallhold to become a B Corp. We were doing all of these things already. Paying living wage, energy efficiency, circularity, sustainability, it is in the DNA of what we do, it always has been. The B Corp process has allowed us to quantify it, explain it to the public, and find ways to improve in the years to come.” In a world where profit often overshadows purpose, Smallhold stands out as a beacon of social responsibility.

Doing things differently has been Smallhold's mentality since their first farm in a Brooklyn shipping container. Andrew and Adam, “encourage everyone to believe in themselves and those around them, to trust in their talents, and to work together to overcome unexpected challenges. Take risks, dare to innovate, and be brave enough to embrace change.”

If you want to support Smallhold, check out their shop to purchase your own grow kit or soil! Their mushrooms are available all over the country in various grocery stores, so inquire with your local grocer about which varieties they carry. Also, if you're new to mushrooms, check out their recipes to introduce your palette to a new world of flavor and texture.[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]