Today we’d like to introduce you to Wesley Anderson.
Hi Wesley, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Elevated Spores is an idea that all started working in the culinary industry. In my early 20s, I worked at a restaurant in downtown Minneapolis where I learned about different types of exotic foods. The chef had a shipment of wild ramps come in and I was very intrigued. Shortly after a forager came in and dropped off some morel mushrooms. This was a pivotal moment in my life where I decided that I wanted to be the one in the forest, not behind a hotplate or computer desk. So, to the woods I went.
I learned about foraging from a few people along the way, but most of my knowledge is self-taught, stemming from reading books, online forums and papers. My passion for the fungi kingdom quickly evolved from gourmet mushrooms into functional mushrooms during a terrible bout of the “man-cold.” In-short, I learned about the immune system regulating effects of Chaga (Inonotus Obliquus) and from that point on my research was mostly on “medicinal” or what I like to call “functional” mushrooms.
I hit the trees, taught myself how to read maps, identify trees and their fungal associations and finally how to process and extract the functional compounds of certain mushrooms. I got really good at extracting and I was really good at cooking and blending flavors so the dream was easy to form. Elevated Spores was born long before the first product was sold.
When the pandemic hit I lost my job, but I did not care one bit. I was already building my website and working on labels and regulatory projects. The fall of 2020 I sold my first extract. The spring of 2021 I formulated my first two food products, Mushroom Coffee and Mushroom Chai, and they were a hit at the farmers markets. Every couple of months or so I like to come out with a new product to offer and that will remain to be a part of the business model. Elevated Spores is just starting, big things are coming in the future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely was not a smooth road. I would have to say that figuring out the legalities and regulations was the biggest struggle. I had several moments where I wanted to give up, but I am glad that I did not. I have experienced every type of food business blunder imaginable: costly packaging and labeling issues, standardized recipe issues, supplier logistical and quality issues, marketing and sales issues and much more.
I learned quickly that it’s all about your attitude, instead of letting it become an existential crisis and having an anxiety attack, a critical mind-shift is needed to turn it into a puzzle, project or game that you have to figure out. Once you are able to transform the dilemma into a focus, you should be good to go.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Elevated Spores LLC?
My name is Wes Anderson and I am the owner of Elevated Spores, a functional food company that infuses wild-foraged functional mushrooms and mushroom extracts into food products such as: Mushroom Extracts, Mushroom Coffee, Mushroom Mocha, Mushroom Chai, Instant Chai, Cocktail Infusion Kits and much more!
Elevated Spores is different because we only use wild-foraged mushrooms that are harvested sustainably from private land. I have access to over 400 acres of isolated forests in Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. It is not hard to understand that food coming directly from nature is better than factory farmed or commercially grown. Elevated Spores is literally forest to table.
I put my whole heart into every product I make. If I would not buy each on for the price I charge I won’t sell it. I spend months developing each product, making sure the flavor and potency are both top of the line.
I am combining 20 years of culinary experience with my passion and knowledge for the fungi kingdom to bring you some of the most unique, interesting and delicious products on the market.
Contact Info:
- Email: elevatedspores@gmail.com
- Website: elevatedspores.com
- Instagram: @elevatedspores
- Facebook: @elevatedspores
