Key Takeaways
- John James Staniszewski leads a vertically integrated mushroom business in Chicago, distributing to 300+ grocery stores.
- His journey into mushroom farming began after overcoming an opioid addiction with the help of psilocybin.
- Staniszewski introduced the concept of a Fungitarian lifestyle, aiming to reach 10 million followers by 2027.
- He calls for practical experience in vertical farming, noting many tech-driven projects lack real food output.
- His upcoming platform, Fungitarian Life, will sell mushroom-based supplements designed for children and adults.
Early Roots and the Start of a Fungitarian Mission
Born and raised in Chicago, John James Staniszewski’s path to agriculture was far from conventional. He started as a nightclub promoter, personal trainer, and competitive bodybuilder before making a radical life shift. That shift, he explained in a recent Vertical Farming Podcast episode hosted by Harry Duran, came after a spiritual experience with psychedelic mushrooms helped him overcome a two-year opioid addiction.
“Mushrooms changed everything for me,” Staniszewski said. “It was my wake-up call.”
The turning point led him to create what he now calls the Fungitarian lifestyle—a philosophy rooted in consuming mushrooms daily for physical and mental health benefits.
From Nightclubs to Nutraceuticals: Building a Mushroom Farm
Staniszewski began cultivating cordyceps in 2018 and later co-founded a mushroom farm in Chicago after discovering a local facility with limited expertise. He traded technical support for space to scale his growing operation, applying hands-on knowledge to reduce contamination rates and streamline production processes.
Today, his business spans over 50,000 square feet and delivers fresh mushrooms to more than 320 grocery stores including Whole Foods, Fresh Thyme, and Meijer. He describes the operation as “from spore to spork”—handling every stage of production in-house to ensure efficiency and profitability.
“We didn’t have a blueprint,” Staniszewski said. “Just determination to get food out at scale.”
Inside the Vertical Farming Industry: A Candid Perspective
Why Practical Farming Still Matters
Staniszewski entered the controlled environment agriculture (CEA) world through events like Indoor AgTech Innovation Summit, where he found himself surprised by what he saw.
“I realized vertical farming is like bodybuilding—you think you’re doing the right things, but when you dig into the details, the results often aren’t there,” he said.
He observed that while many vertical farming startups receive significant investment, they often fail to deliver scalable food production.
“It’s a lot of capital and ideas—but not always food. We need real farmers growing real produce.”
The Fungitarian Future: Food, Wellness, and Education
In addition to wholesale supply, Staniszewski is launching an e-commerce brand called Fungitarian Life on May 1. The platform will feature alcohol-free mushroom tinctures and gummies, developed with bioavailability in mind, and shaped like mushrooms to appeal to children.
His broader vision? To create a movement.
“My mission is to grow a community of 10 million Fungitarians by 2027,” he said. “Whether you eat meat or plants, if mushrooms are a daily part of your diet, you’re a Fungitarian.”
The initiative will also include educational programs, especially for children. Staniszewski is collaborating with Chicago-area schools on a study to evaluate the cognitive benefits of lion’s mane mushroom supplements among fifth-grade students.
Leadership, Lessons, and Industry Collaboration
As his business has grown to a team of 14, Staniszewski has focused on inclusive leadership. “I’ve done every role at the farm,” he said. “That gives people confidence—they know I’ll do the deliveries, run production, whatever it takes.”
He encourages others in the indoor farming industry to prioritize real food impact over fundraising rounds.
“If you’re not growing food at scale and making it accessible, why are we doing this?” he asked. “There’s enough space in this industry for everyone, but we need to start focusing on the fundamentals.”
With the Fungitarian lifestyle gaining traction, Staniszewski continues to push for healthier food systems, practical solutions, and a unified community that includes both technologists and hands-on growers.
“I can make a good business, but I can’t make good people. My team believes in the dream because I believe in them.” — John James Staniszewski
