Fascinating Fungi

WHEN YOU think of mushrooms, the white button, cremini and portobello probably come to mind first they account for about 90% of mushrooms eaten in the U.S. 

- Courtney Shea

1 But there are more than 10,000 known types, and many mycologists (mushroom experts) say this is only a fraction of what's out there.

2 BUT NOT everyone is an enthusiast. In 2019, mushrooms made a list of America's least favorite vegetables, with 18% of the respondents saying they didn't like them. Many haters cite texture as the turnoff, but mushrooms may also trigger disgust for their association with mold. A 2015 Washington Post exploration on the science of disgust listed mushrooms among those foods that can trigger a not entirely rational response.

3 YOU DON'T have to eat mushrooms to reap their benefits. Reishi and tremella varieties are found in everything from adaptogen supplements (which are supposed to help your body adjust to stress) to skin care products. For centuries, lion's mane, Cordyceps and reishi have been in anti-inflammatory and immune-boosting remedies.

4 KENNETT SQUARE, Pennsylvania, is known as the mushroom capital of the world. The small town near Philadelphia produces around 65% of this country's crop. Today's mushroom industry contributes about $1.2 billion and 9,300 jobs to the state economy.

5 UNDERGROUND, MUSHROOMS branch into networks of rootlike mycelium, which help break down waste, adding vital nutrients back into the soil. This network also shares information (such as warning trees about insect infestation), communicating via electrical pulses in intricate patterns. Some mycologists refer to this as the natural internet or the "wood wide web."