Director of Operations & Advocacy at Far West Fungi
Erin has always been interested in and passionate about sustainable agriculture. For the last 5+ years, she's had the opportunity to work specifically on understanding and supporting the exotic mushroom industry. This journey has included advocacy, technical consulting, and building relationships with the largest exotic growers around the world and those who are hoping to scale up from a hobbyist to become a commercial grower in the U.S. Her advocacy work has included drafting legislation to support domestic exotic mushroom suppliers and promoting domestic supply, importing machinery and automation to bring the U.S. producers up to global standards, seeking out solutions for plastic waste and sustainability options, and building meaningful relationships along the way. As a consultant for food safety and organic compliance within the field, she's also up-to-date on the latest USDA standards and evolving industry trends. She looks forward to connecting with other exotic mushroom specialists throughout the globe to share knowledge and grow a sustainable future for exotic and functional mushrooms.
In her past positions, Erin worked as an international specialist throughout the Americas and Caribbean in climate change, water management, and strategic planning. She is committed to working toward food security for all, human rights and sustainable agricultural systems, and environmental justice. She is interested in working with and supporting businesses and organizations that work towards achieving these goals for all, and doing so with a cooperative spirit!