With tons of land, water, and other resources spent on the production of animal protein, the world needs an alternative that is natural, just as nutritious, locally grown, and efficient. That’s where Nature’s Fynd’s fungi protein, ‘Fy’, soon available at select Whole Foods Markets, comes in.

It all started at Yellowstone National Park, where a small sample of Fusarium strain flavolapis was collected, then taken to the lab. With this sample, scientists were now able to produce an unlimited amount of these fungi. The team spent years developing methods in which it could be produced in an efficient way, under the perfect conditions required to avoid the use of pesticides or GMOs.

How Is Fy Produced?

By feeding the strain a carefully selected combination of nutrients, it will grow into a mat of high-protein fungi that Nature’s Fynd can then process into various foods. This process takes place in closed facilities, and the fungi is farmed vertically on trays in standing towers, allowing for 99% less land usage than meat.

An added bonus is that this process can take place virtually anywhere, under the right conditions. So, Fy can be produced closer to its point of purchase, requiring minimal transportation and less CO2 emissions.

The Nutritional Value of Fy

The production of this new protein is clearly more beneficial to our planet… but is Fy good for our health? Let’s take the brand’s new plant-based sausages as an example. When compared to pork-based sausages, this product contains 75% less fat, 11g of protein with all 20 amino acids, no cholesterol or trans fat, no pesticides, and 4g of fiber per serving! So, it’s nutritionally comparable protein-wise, but a lot better for our overall health.

Fy also provides prebiotic fiber that can support your gut microbiome and is highly digestible. This means our bodies can absorb its protein more easily than the kind found in peas, peanuts, and other plant-based sources.

Where Can I Find Nature’s Fynd Products?

Nature’s Fynd plant-based breakfast patties will be available at select Whole Foods Markets starting in April. This is the first product of its kind, and it will now be tested by a large-scale group of consumers. However, the brand has also developed other products using Fy protein, including a cream cheese substitute in two flavors — Original and ‘Chive & Onion’. Some other locations that will carry their products include Mariano’s, Berkely Bowl Marketplace, and Fairway.

Would you try Nature’s Fynd’s high-protein sausages? Comment below and share your thoughts!