At its Feb. 11 meeting in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, the Mushroom Council welcomed one new board member and elected officers for 2026. The nine-member council is composed of eight domestic growers and one importer representing four regions. The program’s purpose is to maintain and expand existing mushroom markets and uses.
The newly elected board member is Ed Wuensch of Basciani Foods (Region 2), while Michael Stephan of Monterey Mushrooms (Region 1) was reappointed for a second term.
Newly elected officers include:
- Chairperson — Pat Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms.
- Vice chairperson — Laura Matar, Giorgio Mushrooms.
- Secretary — Jack Guan, Terra Garden/Guan’s Mushroom.
- Treasurer — Ed Wuensch, Basciani Foods.
The officers’ responsibilities include supporting the council’s development and implementation of an annual research, marketing and promotions plan and ensuring the council manages and follows its annual budget.
The full board now consists of:
- Region 1 (all states except California and Pennsylvania)
- Jurgensmeyer
- Stephan
- Open seat
Region 2 (Pennsylvania)
- Tina Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms
- Laura Matar, Giorgio Mushrooms
- Chris Alonzo, Pietro Industries
- Wuensch
Region 3 (California)
- Guan
Region 4 (importers)
- Open seat
Mushroom Council Calls for Nominations: 2027-29 Term
A call for nominations for three-year terms beginning Jan. 1, 2027, is now open. Completed nomination forms must be emailed or postmarked no later than May 1, 2026.
The regions with positions available are:
- Region 1 (all states except California and Pennsylvania) — One three-year term.
- Region 2 (Pennsylvania) — One three-year term.
- Region 4 (importers) — One three-year term.
All producers who produce, on average, over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms annually for fresh use and are not exempt may nominate one or more candidates, provided that they produce within the specified region.
To qualify as a candidate or to nominate a candidate, an individual must be a producer, meaning any person engaged in the production of mushrooms who owns or shares the ownership and risk of loss of such mushrooms and who produces, on average, over 500,000 pounds of mushrooms per year for the fresh market and is not exempt from paying assessments.
