Sponge Up the Good, Not Pesticides

For the same reason it is highly recommended to avoid foraging mushrooms from roadsides, or near factories or mines, where there might be contamination from run-off, it is important to always choose organic mushrooms when you buy them from the store. They are sponges for everything in their growing environment, including everything in the soil. So, when the soil is filled with chemicals, pesticides, and heavy metals, mushrooms are notorious for soaking them up. Conventionally grown mushrooms are also often sprayed with pesticides, including thiabendazole, which was detected on 44 percent of samples in the most recent USDA testing in 2023.² Thiabendazole is listed by the Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen with harmful effects on reproductive and developmental health.³ Organic mushrooms, on the other hand, are produced from farm to table without pesticides and never genetically modified, giving them more power to sponge up the best of nature.

More Than Delicious

Like an apple on a tree, mushrooms are the fruiting bodies of some fungal species. Most of the body of a mushroom lives as networks of fine threads underground called mycelium. Sometimes called “Earth’s great recyclers,” these underground networks eat their way through organic matter, leaving nutrient-rich soil in their wake. Fungal mycelia make connections with the roots of more than 80 percent of land plants.⁴ These connections allow fungi and plants (including many crops we eat!) to share nutrients and water. For example, fungi can source phosphorus from clay and rocks that plants cannot access and share this important nutrient.⁵ Fungi can also help plants increase uptake of vital nutrients like potassium and magnesium, increase resistance to certain pests and pathogens, and support drought resistance.⁶ Fungi also draw as much as 13 billion tons of carbon down out of the atmosphere each year, making them a key player in fighting climate change.⁷

From clean air to rich soils, healthy crops, and delicious, nutrient-packed delights on our plates, the gift of organic mushrooms can be found far and wide. So, here’s to longevity—ours, the Earth’s, and the mushrooms’—and the organic choices that get us there!

Try Our Grilled Mushroom Fajitas Recipe

Meaty portabella mushrooms are the star of these grilled fajitas! Seasoned with our organic Taco Seasoning Blend and grilled with colorful bell peppers and onion, vegetarians and meat lovers alike will love this twist on a classic! A variety of tasty toppings allows everyone to customize their fajitas for the perfect bite.

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References

1. Learn, J. R. (2021, March 28). 5000-year-old ‘Iceman’ may have benefited from a sophisticated health care system. Science | AAAS. https://www.science.org/content/article/5000-year-old-iceman-may-have-b…
2. USDA. (2023). Pesticide data program: Mushrooms [Dataset]. https://apps.ams.usda.gov/PDP
3. Pesticide Action Network. (2025, September 25). Pesticide Info: thiabendazole. Pesticide Info. https://www.pesticideinfo.org/chemical/PRI6209/
4. Gosling, P., Hodge, A., Goodlass, G., & Bending, G. (2005). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic farming. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 113(1–4), 17–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2005.09.009
5. McCoy, P. (2017, July 18). 6 reasons more farms should grow mushrooms. Civil Eats. https://civileats.com/2017/07/07/6-reasons-more-farms-should-grow-mushr…
6. Gosling, P., Hodge, A., Goodlass, G., & Bending, G. (2005). Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and organic farming. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment, 113(1–4), 17–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agee.2005.09.009
7. Van Nuland, M. (2024, May 24). Fungal networks are one of Earth’s largest carbon sinks. SPUN. https://www.spun.earth/articles/carbon-paper