About
Smallhold is redefining how gourmet mushrooms reach your plate by building a mycelial-like network of certified organic farms across the United States. Instead of shipping mushrooms across the country or globe, Smallhold grows them as close to consumers as possible — reducing carbon footprint, cutting transportation costs, and delivering fresher product. Founded in Brooklyn, NY, the company now operates in multiple major cities including Austin and Los Angeles, with retail partnerships at grocery stores across Southern California and beyond. Smallhold grows an impressive variety of specialty fungi — from blue oysters and lion's mane to shiitake, maitake, and royal trumpet — each with distinct flavors, textures, and nutritional profiles. As a certified B Corp, Smallhold holds itself to rigorous environmental and social standards, furthering its mission to connect people with their food, environment, and farmers. Beyond selling mushrooms, Smallhold actively educates consumers through recipes, a monthly newsletter (The Mushroom Digest), and culinary inspiration to help turn everyday cooks into dedicated "Mushroom People." Whether you're looking to shred lion's mane for mock crab cakes or slowly smoke trumpet mushrooms over an open flame, Smallhold provides the ingredients and the inspiration.
Key Features
- Distributed Local Farm Network: Smallhold operates farms in multiple U.S. cities, growing mushrooms close to consumers to minimize transportation and maximize freshness.
- Certified Organic & B Corp: All Smallhold mushrooms are USDA Certified Organic, and the company holds B Corp certification for meeting high environmental and social standards.
- Specialty Mushroom Variety: Offers a wide range of gourmet fungi including lion's mane, blue oyster, maitake, shiitake, and royal trumpet — well beyond the standard button mushroom.
- Retail Partnerships: Smallhold mushrooms are available in grocery stores across the U.S., making specialty fungi accessible to everyday shoppers.
- Culinary Education & Recipes: Provides recipes, a monthly newsletter, and culinary inspiration to help consumers explore the full flavor and texture potential of gourmet mushrooms.
Use Cases
- Home cooks looking to experiment with gourmet and specialty mushroom varieties beyond standard button mushrooms.
- Health-conscious consumers seeking certified organic, locally grown produce with minimal environmental impact.
- Chefs and food enthusiasts wanting fresh, high-quality fungi for creative culinary applications like lion's mane 'crab' cakes or smoked trumpet mushrooms.
- Sustainability-minded shoppers who want to support B Corp-certified brands with transparent farming practices.
- Grocery retailers and food service businesses seeking a reliable local supplier of specialty organic mushrooms.
Pros
- Locally Grown & Sustainable: By farming close to consumers, Smallhold drastically reduces the environmental cost of food transportation and packaging waste.
- Impressive Variety: Access to rare and gourmet mushroom varieties not typically found in conventional grocery stores, opening up new culinary possibilities.
- Mission-Driven & Transparent: As a certified B Corp, Smallhold is held to high standards of environmental and social accountability, giving consumers confidence in their purchase.
Cons
- Limited Geographic Availability: Smallhold's farms and retail partnerships are concentrated in select U.S. cities, so customers in other regions may not have local access.
- Premium Pricing: Specialty organic mushrooms come at a higher price point compared to conventional supermarket varieties, which may not suit all budgets.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I buy Smallhold mushrooms?
Smallhold mushrooms are available through retail partners including grocery stores across Southern California, Brooklyn, Austin, and other cities. Use the store locator on their website to find a location near you.
What types of mushrooms does Smallhold grow?
Smallhold grows a variety of gourmet and specialty mushrooms including blue oyster, lion's mane, maitake, royal trumpet, and shiitake, among others.
Are Smallhold mushrooms certified organic?
Yes, Smallhold is a certified organic operation. All of their mushrooms are grown without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers.
What does it mean that Smallhold is a B Corp?
B Corp certification means Smallhold has met rigorous standards of verified social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency set by the nonprofit B Lab.
How does Smallhold's farm model differ from conventional mushroom farming?
Instead of growing mushrooms in a single centralized location and shipping them long distances, Smallhold builds a distributed network of farms close to urban centers, reducing waste, emissions, and time from farm to plate.
