ungi have long been symbols of decay and witchcraft, but recently, our cultural mycophobia has been giving way to wellness-driven mushroom), for instance, can promote brain health and that cordyceps—the cause of the zombie apocalypse in HBO’s —exhibit cancer-fighting properties. “I think these types of functional mushrooms have more potential to help humanity than psychedelic mushrooms and CBD combined,” says veteran Colorado mushroom forager Del Jolly. That prospect inspired him to co-found Longmont-based Umbo in 2020 with Rashad Evans, a former UFC fighter based in Boca Raton, Florida, and retired Denver Broncos quarterback Jake Plummer. Plummer, who lives in Boulder, also co-owns MyCOLove Farms, a gourmet and functional mushroom grower in Fort Lupton. Umbo’s shroom-packed snack bars, tinctures, and supplements are intended to boost customers’ mental and physical well-being, though scientists still haven’t conclusively determined functional mushrooms’ health benefits. Neverthelesss, the value of the sector is expected to reach $20 billion worldwide by 2030, according to Allied Market Research. And with plans to launch a new line of recovery products tailored to athletes later this year, Umbo is positioned to mushroom along with the rest of the functional fungi industry.
