Our Story
We are a self-confessed family of fungi enthusiasts, embarking on a journey that has flourished like a web of mycelium. Denise, driven by a quest for wellness, began questioning conventional beliefs about health and education following several health conditions in the family, including cancer, late-onset type 1 diabetes, ADHD, eczema and asthma. This journey led us to adopt a predominately plant-based diet, however we realised that plants were not reliable sources of certain vitamins, specifically B12 and D. That’s when we discovered mushrooms – the only natural plant-based food source rich in these vitamins.
Mushrooms are a delicious food often referred to as ‘functional mushrooms’ due to their extensive health benefits across the various varieties. As Denise delved deeper into the subject, leveraging her background in horticulture, it seemed a natural progression to start growing gourmet mushrooms. A qualified Landscape Designer, with over 13 years of experience running a successful landscape company, Denisealready had a wealth of knowledge growing plants.
The family has a deep passion for caring for the environment. We love how mushrooms play a crucial role in ecosystems by breaking down organic matter and recycling nutrients back into the soil. This process enhances soil health, promotes plant growth and reduces waste. Additionally, mushrooms can help in bioremediation, as they have the ability to absorb and break down pollutants, cleaning up contaminated environments.
Today at Mushroom Junction, we grow mushrooms from spore to mycelium to fruiting bodies, we enjoy growing several types of oyster mushrooms, pekepeke-kiore, tawaka and shiitake. We are also in the process of cultivating turkey tail mushrooms for use as a supplement. We currently sell fresh mushrooms to local food stores and farmers markets we also send ‘grow your own’ mushroom kits throughout NZ.
