LEE'S SUMMIT, MO - At its February 11 meeting in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico, the Mushroom Council welcomed one new board member and elected its 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 (Region 2); Michael Stephan, Monterey Mushrooms (Region 1) was reappointed for a second term.

Newly elected officers are:

• 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

According to a press release, 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 CA and PA):

• Pat Jurgensmeyer, J-M Farms
• Michael Stephan, Monterey Mushrooms
• Open

Region 2 (Pennsylvania):

• Tina Ellor, Phillips Mushroom Farms
• Laura Matar, Giorgio Mushrooms
• Chris Alonzo, Pietro Industries
• Ed Wuensch, Basciani Foods

Region 3 (California):

• Jack Guan, Terra Garden/Guan’s Mushroom

Region 4 (Importers):

• Open

Mushroom Council Calls for Nominations: 2027-2029 Term

A call for nominations for three-year terms beginning January 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 CA & PA): One 3-year term
• Region 2 (Pennsylvania): One 3-year term
• Region 4 (Importers): One 3-year term

Eligibility: 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. Producer means 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 not exempt from paying assessments.

For more information about the calls for nominations, please contact Amy Wood, Mushroom Council President at [email protected].