 |
|
New 43,000
sq. ft. facility in Sebastopol, California
|
Company Info
Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. has pioneered
exotic mushroom cultivation for almost 30 years and is considered a
world leader in this field. Based on the research of Dr. Tsuneto Yoshii
of Japan and the continuing close relationship, GMI was first to
commercially cultivate Shiitake in the Western Hemisphere, and to
develop cultivation of the Pompon Blanc™ (Pom Pom) Mushroom. The
company supplies the finest chefs in North America.
Along with fresh
cultivated mushrooms, GMI has a selection of seasonal wild mushrooms,
truffle oils, dried mushrooms (including Morels, Black Trumpet,
Shiitake and Porcini) and nutraceuticals. Since its inception, the
company has produced a line of mushroom mycelial biomass products for
the nutraceutical industry. The mushroom nutraceutical products are
marketed worldwide.
Executive Biographies
MALCOLM CLARK
CHAIRMAN
Malcolm Clark is
British by birth and a biologist by academic training. Ever one to take
on a challenge, Malcolm became one of the first recipients of the Duke
of Edinburgh Gold Award. He was awarded this as a young man, having
successfully tested his limits working as a sea diver in Portugal, and
through serving as a poisonous snake collector in Kenya.
As the Director of
Biological Research for a scientific company in Toronto, Clark lead
scientific teams in developing unique biological teaching aids for
Canada and the U.S. In the early 1970’s, during a sabbatical from his
work, Clark went to Japan to delve into another passion of his, the art
of judo. While in Japan, he was chosen to be one of two principal
students of Dr. Yoshii, a world leader in the area of mycology. He
became a devoted student by absorbing the facts and experience that
enabled him to become a pioneer in exotic mushroom cultivation.
Upon returning to
Toronto, Clark was able to research and develop the first controlled
cultivation of the shiitake mushroom. It was during this period that
Clark met David Law through an introduction made by a mutual friend,
and the idea of Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. was hatched.
As Gourmet Mushrooms,
Inc. has evolved, Clark has developed an extensive library of
proprietary isolates of fungi cultures for culinary and medicinal uses.
By making collection expeditions to remote locations, such as the
Himalayas, to bring back specimens to culture, he has also gleaned
knowledge of the environment to duplicate in the lab. In addition to
developing the strains for these cultures, which have been the basis
for the company’s portfolio of cultivated mushrooms, he has developed
the actual cultivation methods of many exotic mushrooms.
Clark continues to
maintain a close relationship with his mentor, Dr. Yoshii. He does
consulting worldwide and maintains a schedule as a guest speaker at
national and international conferences.
DAVID LAW
PRESIDENT and CEO
David Law, chief
financial officer at Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. in Sebastopol, California
is responsible for guiding the innovative, cutting-edge company through
the uncharted waters of business that it has seen since its inception
in 1977. With a solid background in both science and business, coupled
with well-honed analytical skills, David’s capabilities have enabled
Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. to develop a healthy profit margin in a
traditionally small, niche market.
Born in Hong Kong,
David grew up in a cultural environment where the mushroom was a
treasured part of daily meals. David immigrated to the United States at
age 18 to pursue a biochemistry degree at the University of Oregon.
David attended graduate school at the University of Wisconsin and
earned an MBA in Finance along with an MS in real estate. It was during
his graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin that he and Malcolm
met and realized their common enchantment with the mushroom.
David moved to San
Francisco, at the time GMI was formed, to begin his career in
commercial real estate with major Wall Street firms. At the end of the
1980’s, it was time to make a career decision: either move across the
United States to continue his real estate career, or go to work at
Gourmet Mushrooms, Inc. full time. In 1990, David chose the latter, and
in opting for sweaters over suits, he became part of the day-to-day,
high-energy business of growing and marketing exotic mushrooms.
Along with managing the
financial functions at GMI, David is responsible for the marketing of
mushroom products to the health food industry and to promote mushrooms
as a platform for new medicine. He has delved into many aspects of
medicinal uses of mushrooms, particularly in immune function support.
David works with many health care professionals, including oncologists,
nutritionists, and alternative medicine practitioners in formulating
mushroom based nutritional supplements.
David has developed a
clear vision for the company’s place in society. In his words, he would
like to see, "GMI improve the quality of life for all associated with
the company, and also society at large. We have several guiding
principles that are crucial to our vision: constant respect for people,
uncompromising integrity, open and honest communication, equal
opportunity, and superior quality of products and service."
Timeline
| 1976 |
The idea for Gourmet
Mushrooms, Inc. came in 1976, when Malcolm Clark, who was lab director
at Boreal Biological Laboratories in Toronto, and David Law, a graduate
business student at the University of Wisconsin, meet through a mutual
friend. |
| 1977 |
Selected Sonoma County to
start the business due to its mild temperatures and proximity to the
San Francisco market. Bought and converted an abandoned chicken farm in
Sonoma County to start the business. |
| 1981 |
First successful cultivation
of wild mushroom, named Pompon Blanc™ (Pom Pom). |
| 1989 |
Establish mushroom spawn
supply business to specialty mushroom growers. |
| 1993 |
Malcolm makes Bali trip and
discovers mushroom strain to be named, "Baby Blue Oyster™". |
| 1996 |
Malcolm co-organized an
expedition to Nepal to collect live Cordyceps sinensis specimen
(caterpillar mushroom) to maintain and broaden the genetic pool of
GMI’s fungal culture collection. |
| 1999 |
Malcolm makes Peru trip and
brings back a collection of exotic fungi. |
| 2000 |
Import automatic mushroom
cultivation equipment from Japan. Act as exclusive importer of this
equipment. |
| 2001 |
Begin construction of 43,000
sq. ft. facility in Sebastopol |
