EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — Two El Paso natives who have dedicated their careers to advancing fungal education and applications through their work with Myceliumatters and El Paso Mushroom Co. are taking their passion for fungi to East Africa.
Mycologists and educators Aixarret Hernandez and Maximilian Esparza will co-host the African Rising Mushroom Festival from Nov. 13-15 in Kampala Village, Uganda, along with Eco Agric Uganda, a women-led organization founded by Josephine Nakakande, Hernandez said in a news release.
According to the press release, the three-day event will train local farmers and students to grow gourmet mushrooms using agricultural byproducts and minimal water, creating both food and daily income for local families.
“Mushrooms are a low-resource crop,” Hernandez said. “They don’t need much water, land, or energy. You can grow them from agricultural waste and they produce nutritious food that families can also sell for daily income.”
Hernandez said that through workshops, festivals, and conferences across Texas and California, she and Esparza have connected thousands of people to fungi’s role in building sustainable food systems.
They also operate a gourmet mushroom farm in El Paso, supplying local restaurants and markets while continuing to educate others on the environmental and social benefits of fungi.
“From El Paso to Uganda, Hernandez and Esparza are helping demonstrate how mushroom education can create international impact, improving food security and economic opportunity,” read the news release.
You can follow their journey on social media at @myceliumatters and @elpasomushroom.
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