Fungi Futures
Fungi are the forgotten heroes of the ecosystem and perhaps our modern food system. In this blog post, I want to highlight fungi and all they have provided me during my college years both professionally and personally. Mushrooms are so often overlooked as a food group in the U.S. This is likely due to mycophobia, or the irrational fear of mushrooms. However, from mushroom coffee and steaks to new foraging shows like Chefs vs. Wild and influencers like @blackforager, mushrooms are making a mainstream comeback.
During the summer of 2022, I started my first internship working in Indigenous Horticulture. I learned all about the edible plant species from my coworkers in Plymouth, MA. I learned how integral foraging was for Indigenous food sovereignty of many of the ongoing tribes in New England. From this, I rediscovered my passion from mushroom foraging from my childhood finding chanterelles near my family’s farm in Maine. Since then, I have been obsessed with how mushrooms and foraging can play a role in a more sustainable plant- and fungi-centric food system.
Foraging mushrooms correctly leaves little to know impact on the environment. It beats even the best farm to table as it cuts out even the farmer and crops to grow—the work is done and is just waiting to be discovered.
The following summer, Plant Futures brought Meati on for a career opportunities call. The company harnesses mushroom’s naturally Meati texture and fast growing mycelium (mushroom roots). The result is delicious fungi-based steaks and chicken cutlets, high in iron and protein, but low in fats and excess ingredients some fault other alternative proteins with. I spent the following summer in 2023 working with them as a brand ambassador, selling up to 60 boxes doing demos in Whole Foods.
Through this, I personally created a YouTube, Tiktok, and environmental thesis about foraging.
@ForagingFriends has allowed me to creatively express and share my love of mushrooms in short videos. Meanwhile, my thesis allowed me to explore the social aspects of foraging while learning from foragers around Rhode Island.
Follow Liu, and ForagingFriends on Tiktok and Youtube
Plant Futures empowered me to continue chasing my passion of foraging and Fungi Futures. I was able to recruit members for the Brown Alternative Protein Project and later host the “Plant Jam” my senior year due to Plant Futures support. From these professional opportunities like Meati (which helped recruit new members and provide for events) and personal support of my passions, I’m excited for how Plant Futures is breaking down mycophobia and creating fungi-inclusive foodways!
