JFS Altius Farms Expands Production with Gourmet Mushroom Containers
JFS Altius Farms Expands Production with Gourmet Mushroom Containers
JFS Altius Farms, a local leader in sustainable urban farming, is excited to bring fresh, gourmet mushrooms to restaurants, grocers, and the community JFS serves through its food pantry.
The two mushroom containers, crafted by FarmBox Foods, are in our existing outdoor garden space and have the capacity to produce 400 to 600 pounds of mushrooms per week, including blue oyster, chestnut, lion’s mane, enoki, and king trumpet varieties. The entire cultivation process (substrate mixing, inoculation, pasteurization, colonization, and fruiting) occurs inside the containers.
“We are excited to provide our partners with fresh, sustainably grown culinary mushrooms,” said Sally Herbert, Director of JFS Altius Farms. “Expanding our selection from leafy greens to include gourmet mushrooms aligns with our commitment to promoting food security, a healthy local food system, and sustainable farming.”
"Anyone who's familiar with JFS Altius knows about their belief in the importance of sustainable growing, but they deserve just as much recognition for their commitment to community and food access," said Rusty Walker, CEO of FarmBox Foods. "More and more people are realizing the many health benefits of gourmet mushrooms, and JFS Altius is responding by adding them to the menu for their extended Denver family. We're immensely proud to be a part of what they're doing."
JFS acquired Altius Farms in July 2023, to reinforce its dedication to serving the community and strengthen its infrastructure by creating a nonprofit social enterprise business that provides financial support and sustainability for all our integrated programs for the future.
About Jewish Family Service of Colorado (JFS)
JFS is a nonprofit human services organization that serves anyone in need – regardless of their circumstances or religious beliefs. We believe in a shared responsibility to support impactful changes throughout our community. Founded 153 years ago, we currently offer more than 30 programs and services, including food security, housing stability, mental health counseling, aging care, employment support, refugee resettlement, chaplaincy and Jewish Life, disability services, and aeroponic farming. JFS takes a holistic approach, assessing the various needs of the individual or family and provides the appropriate services all from one organization.
About FarmBox Foods
FarmBox Foods is a Colorado-based manufacturer of controlled-climate container farms that provide communities with the ability to sustainably grow healthy food year-round, anywhere in the world. The privately funded company brings food security and decentralized food production to areas in need through agricultural technology in the form of a Vertical Hydroponic Farm (VHF), Gourmet Mushroom Farm (GMF) and Hydroponic Fodder Farm (HFF). The high-yield, low-carbon-footprint container farms offer an alternative to traditional outdoor agriculture, which is subject to disruption from inclement weather, drought, pests and more. The cutting-edge farm designs promote easy operation and maintenance while reducing the risk of food-borne illnesses.
Blue Oyster
Mushroom containers