Farro Fresh has unveiled the latest addition to its Grey Lynn store; a cutting-edge Myco Chamber built in New Zealand by Capped. This state-of-the-art Myco chamber is the first of its kind in New Zealand and has an innovative approach to mushroom farming, bringing agri-tech into a retail environment.
The Capped team monitors the chamber remotely to guarantee an optimal environment for cultivating functional and delicious gourmet mushrooms. Remote monitoring ensures that every centimetre of the chamber is meticulously managed, providing the perfect conditions for healthy mushroom growth.
The Myco Chamber is set to yield a bountiful harvest of approximately 7.5 kilograms of mushrooms per week. Available mushroom varieties include the blushing Pink Oyster, the native Raglan Oyster, the Phoenix oyster - a favourite among chefs, and the New Zealand Lion's Mane or Pekepeke-kiore. These mushrooms are superfoods, boasting an array of benefits from fighting inflammation to bolstering immunity.
What sets these mushrooms apart is their cultivation in entirely locally sourced materials, including pine sawdust, a sustainable byproduct of the timber industry.
"At Capped, we believe food cultivation should better the environment and elevate health and wellbeing," said Gareth Hammett from Capped.
"Farro's mushrooms are grown naturally and organically without using sprays or harmful chemicals in an efficient, calibrated environment for delicious, high-quality, and nutrient-dense mushrooms."
He continued that Capped works with innovative partners like Farro and some of Tāmaki Makaurau's most favoured restaurants that share our values.
Customers can find a mature bunch of mushrooms in the chamber, grab a pair of scissors and a paper bag and cut the mushrooms close to the base of the stem, taking only as much as they need and keep them in the store in the refrigerator; where they are kept fresh for 5-7 days.
"Farro is so excited to have this incredible Kiwi innovation in store. It's a testament to our commitment to finding the finest, freshest produce for our valued foodie customers and our passion for supporting local innovators and artisans," said Farro CEO Craig Williams.
Head to Farro Grey Lynn to see a variety of gourmet mushrooms grow live onsite in the Myco Chamber. Also available are grow kits that allow customers to cultivate mushrooms themselves at home.
