About The Farmer

WHO IS THE FLORIDA SHROOM KING

Fungi Focused Farmers Market Fanatic

Andrew Johnson

My journey with fungi began like most other mycologist, one shroom at a time. An abundance of passion allowed growing mushrooms to become my career growing gourmet and functional mushrooms.


When I began as a mushroom purveyor I was surprised at how many people expressed not simply disinterest, but were so expressive with themselves being repulsed. Everything on the table is understandably foreign and even alien in appearance. I was now aware that some people were actually afraid of mushrooms!

Fungiphobia has developed in the western culture due to massive lack of education and misinformation. I loved these mushrooms, and so did most people who were brave enough then to give them a try! So I put my effort into understanding the fear and taught people how to enjoy and properly prepare mushrooms. I found and made sure every one who came to my booth to learn knew the key to cooking awesome meaty mushrooms, and getting rid of that spongy texture that's normally the cause of people not enjoying eating them! Sharing that simple trick with others has helped many learn to enjoy mushrooms!

These days things have certainly made a 180 improvement! Mainly credited to the release of Fantastic Fungi, Paul Stamets and the health benefits many Americans are noticing from taking mushroom products and sharing with their friends. Now we can focus on improving what we have, we can do better for the mushrooms, as they can do for us!

In early 2021 we experienced history repeating itself, our customers let us know that they liked the benefits of our alcohol dual extracts of lions mane, but the harsh flavor made it difficult to take regularly. Having just only finishing our first production batch, I was driven to find an alternative. Upon researching other mushrooms used in Traditional Chinese medicine, A paper on Tremella mentioned Ultrasound-Assited-Extraction. This caught my attention as using sound-waves for extraction is highly interesting. I piled into research to find the optimal methods for using this new extraction technique. Once I ran my first ultrasound run, I felt a powerful difference in effects.

I then committed to improving on this method over the years, adding a weak acid, Apple Cider Vinegar, to further improve extraction rates while extracting vitamins and minerals as well with the mushrooms. We have crafted a highly optimized process unique to our farm as a result. This pivot marked the first vertically integrated mushroom farm to create Ultrasound Lions Mane Extracts, meaning we grow our own mushrooms and extract them, and one of the very first in the world to create ultrasound mushroom extracts. Increased awareness on this solvent free method has led to more companies doing ultrasound extraction, marking a new generation of mushroom extracts!

Mush Love! ✌️❤️‍🍄👑

Andrew Johnson

Florida Shroom King - Founder / Owner / CFO(Chief Farming Officer) / CEO(Chief extraction Officer)

FLORIDA MYCOLOGICAL SOCIETY - VICE PRESIDENT