LifeCap Farms, a sustainable urban farm based in Jersey City, is passionate about providing local gourmet mushrooms and mushroom-based products to the community. Founder Baris Sonmez shares his mission to spread the love of mushrooms based on the endless health benefits they possess and impart, and how they serve as a great meat alternative.

Eating local matters. Food should not come from thousands of miles away. LifeCap strives to make a positive impact to the environment by growing responsibly and leveraging technology efficiently. Their proprietary software enables them to monitor the slightest changes in the growing environment, allowing for continuous improvement in the production process. These efforts result in the most delicious gourmet mushrooms—all while reducing natural resource consumption—and delivered locally.

The nutritional value of edible mushrooms is due to their high protein, fiber, vitamin and mineral contents and low-fat levels. They are very useful for vegetarian diets because they provide all the essential amino acids for adult requirements. They also contain bioactive compounds with various human health benefits, including enhancing the body’s immune response as well as having anti-tumor and anti-cancer properties.

LifeCap Farms was founded in 2018 with the mission of serving the community by providing produce to nonprofits at no cost, providing composting to urban gardens and offering youth education. In 2021, LifeCap expanded to its new 6,000-square-foot location in Jersey City.

Currently offering a CSA program with a bi-weekly mushroom variety box that can be selected in one-to-three-pound sizes (3-month min. commitment). Four pick-up locations within Jersey City: Plant Base Market, 370 Pacific Ave.; Busy Bee Organics, 451 Palisade Ave.; Raine n River Apothecary, 299 Grove St.; Griot Café, 398 Central Ave; and in Ridgewood, Village Green Restaurant.

For more information, visit LifeCapFarms.com.