Author Bio

Roger and Mary Winstead are co-owners of Beautiful Edibles farm, selling produce for both retail and wholesale buyers through the Local Source online food hub. Their small scale market garden began in 2015 at the family homestead in Paradise, IN. In 2021 they established an urban mushroom farm in downtown Evansville. They have been foraging and growing mushrooms for over 20 years. Their operation produces between 50 to 150 lbs. of mushrooms weekly. They are recipients of a 2025 SARE grant for the formation of an Indiana Commercial Mushroom Growers Association. Presentation: Discover the emerging mushroom industry: Mushrooms are a high value, specialty crop that can be grown year round. Many farms in Indiana would benefit from an additional crop, especially one that is not seasonally limited. It is well suited for beginning farmers who need lower startup costs or have limited space. Creative use of buildings, woodlands and city settings will be explored. Learn about profitability, sourcing and skills to get started. Discover plans to connect and improve the economic viability of mushroom growers with representation for this niche urban agriculture sector through a professional association.