Clarion, Pennsylvania (EYT) – Clarion’s Esperanzo Wilcox, better known as DJ Espo, will assume a new role after receiving a grant of $10,000.00. Started a new mushroom growing business in Clarion County.

Wilcox is the DJ of Clarion's C-93 radio station and is one of 15 applicants for the Jumpstart Grant in the AgChoice Farm Credit field.

The recipient of the grant is a full-time or part-time farmer who has started farming in the past two years or plans to start a farm business in the next two years. In addition to working in agriculture in the AgChoice area, the grantee also submitted a business plan and completed the Ag Biz Basics education plan.

Wilcox said that his business plan for PA Mushrooms stems from his personal interest in mushroom cultivation.

"My investment in mushroom cultivation started with my fiance Christine foraging for chanterelles," Wilcox told exploreClarion.com.

"We moved from Colorado to Clarion to help manage the home radio station. After arriving in Clarion, Pennsylvania, my interest and fascination with mushrooms continued."

Wilcox said that his curiosity and desire to better understand the diverse forest landscape of Pennsylvania drove him to continue to understand wild mushrooms, and then he finally sought a state-approved safety certification for the sale of wild mushrooms in Pennsylvania.

This also led him to discover the Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club. He soon became a member while continuing his studies and learning more about the rich history that Pennsylvania shared with mushrooms.

"Dating back to the 1930s, there were only more than 500 commercial mushroom growers in the United States, 350 of which were in Pennsylvania," he pointed out.

"Then in the 1970s, Pennsylvania State University became a North American mushroom research center, contributing to the advancement of mushroom production and distribution. Just last year, Pennsylvania mushroom growers produced more than 60% of the country's mushrooms, with agricultural income exceeding $5 billion."

He also learned that, in addition to the economic benefits that mushroom cultivation may bring, using mushrooms as a major food source is also beneficial to health.

"The ligninophilic mushrooms that we grow specifically are rich in nutrients and have a variety of health benefits, such as the anti-cancer properties of Trametes versicolor (commonly known as turkey tail), or the new type of brain neurogenesis of Hericium erinaceus, which is commonly known as the lion. mane."

In 2019, he started to learn mushroom cultivation through mycology books, experimented with different techniques, and followed industry experts. Then, he "Leap of Faith" and found his recently retired friend James "Gary" Gabarino to discuss the idea of ​​starting a professional mushroom company.

"His answer was'what is needed?' Before long, our initial investment was just enough to produce mushrooms for our friends, family and local restaurants."

Thus, PA Mushroom Company was born.

According to Wilcox, the process of PA Mushroom Company involves acquiring genetics by culturing a living tissue culture through spore germination on a petri dish, and then transferring the living tissue containing the desired mushroom strain to the grain, such as black Wheat, millet or oats.

These grains are then used to inoculate a substrate, which is a mixture of modified hardwood sawdust, widely used as a by-product of the Pennsylvania timber and hardwood manufacturing industry.

Once the substrate is colonized, it is transferred to the fruit body, where sufficient humidity and temperature conditions are maintained to promote the growth of the mushroom fruit body.

"Our goal is to obtain regional distribution of fresh mushrooms, while also providing planting kits and finished products such as dried mushrooms, mixed cheese, tinctures, powdered supplements and various other mushroom products."

After receiving a positive response locally, he took the next step and contacted the Clarion Small Business Development Center, where he received help in developing a viable business plan and market analysis.

His contact with the Small Business Development Center also prompted him to apply for the AgChoice Jumpstart Grant.

When Wilcox learned that he had been selected for funding, he was actually out hiking and foraging with his friends Carly Focelli and Craig Kleckner.

"I will never forget the overwhelming joy I experienced when I checked my email and discovered that I was selected as a grant recipient."

Wilcox plans to use grant funds to purchase a production and retail space, which will allow direct-to-consumer sales, while also creating a space to host monthly courses, speakers, and events.

"They are really honored to be part of the 15 hardworking talents in the funding class. They represent many different fields of Pennsylvania farm and agriculture, from multi-generation farms, beef and dairy farmers to multi-crop vegetable farms, hops Farm and future orchard farmers.

"We all have one thing in common, and that is that we are the future of Pennsylvania farms and agriculture. Moreover, we look forward to what the future will bring. It is through such grant opportunities that key changes can be made and farmers can increase productivity and increase productivity. Achieve greater success."

To learn more about PA Mushroom Company, please check the website www.pamushroom.com, their Facebook page www.facebook.com/PAmushroom or their Instagram