Jayme Pantekoek is an athletic trainer and owns a weight training company called Full Strength. Jayme has also formed an interest and gained a lot of knowledge about mushrooms and their mysteries. Here, she shares her passion with Breezes.

Q: What specifically are you certified in?

A: “I am certified in selling four types of mushrooms to restaurants, farmers markets, stores, etc. Including, Hen of the woods (Grifola Frondosa), Lion’s Mane (Hericium Erinaceus), Giant Puff Ball (Calvatia Gigantea), and Hedgehog (Hyndum Repandum).”

Q: Where did you receive your certificate?

A: “Minnesota Mycological Society.”

Q: How did you get interested in mushrooms?

A: “I’ve always been interested in everything plants and animals, and mushrooms have always been mysterious. Another allure to mushrooms is their are plenty of poisonous mushrooms in our area. There is a saying in the mushroom community: all mushrooms are edible once. You have to have some pretty good knowledge in order to distinguish between edible and lookalikes, which may be poisonous. There is a good TED Talk on seven ways mushrooms can save the world, that one put me full into the mushroom community.”

Q: What are some interesting facts about mushrooms?

A: -“There is a fossil of a mushroom that is 30 feet tall [from] before trees covered the earth.”

-”There is a Giant Honey mushroom in Oregon that covers 2200 acres of land.”

-”Lightning makes mushrooms more plentiful.”

– “Mushrooms can be used to clean toxic waste, degrade plastic, decompose matter in landfills and be used as a pesticide.”

– “Mushrooms are more closely related to humans than plants.”

-”There are 75 different species of mushrooms that glow in the dark. Jack O Lantern mushrooms are one of them and can be found in your backyard.”

– “Mushrooms are the only food in the produce section to contain Vitamin D.”

Q: What benefits do mushrooms provide?

A: -“Cordycep fungi are performance enhancers for athletes. It helps improve energy, stamina, and recovery.”

-“Chaga Mushrooms help with immune modulation, cancer treatment, removing certain parasites, balancing blood sugar, heart protection.”

– “Psylocybin is used to treat mental disorders such as PTSD, depression, bipolar disorders and addiction.”

– “Turkey Tail blocks cancer cell growth and reduces treatment related side effects.”