Join us as we go beyond the label with food brands that we love at Martie. Today, we chat with Matt Feldman, the founder of Moku Foods, the brand making mushroom jerky, that really does taste like meat! In the best way! We were SO CURIOUS to know how that works, so we asked. Read all about Moku Foods, below, and be sure to shop their deals, here.
We’ve been hearing about Moku Foods and mushroom jerky everywhere, we are thrilled to chat with you and learn more!
Martie: What’s the mission behind Moku Foods?
Matt: Our mission is to create delicious, sustainable snacks that help preserve the land rather than destroy it.
Matt Feldman, founder and CEO of Moku
Martie: What exactly is Mushroom Jerky? How do you make it?
Matt: We worked with Michelin Star Chef, Thomas Bowman to take king oyster mushrooms and turn them into a delicious, tender jerky that emulates the taste and texture of beef jerky. We start with fresh king oyster mushrooms that we source from an indoor farm and then apply a three step cook and marinade process which gives our jerky a different texture than anything out there. It’s chewy like beef jerky but soft enough for children to eat.
Martie: What’s your favorite Mushroom Jerky? How do you like to eat it?
Matt: I usually keep Moku in my car and eat it in between meals when I am super hungry and want something tasty and high in Fiber. For dishes, I love cutting Moku up, pan frying it and throwing it on pasta or stir fries. It’s a great topping on mac n cheese and pizza as well.
Martie: How is mushroom jerky better for the planet?
Matt: King oyster mushrooms are grown indoors on logs and require much less resources than raising cattle. Compared to beef jerky, Moku uses 97% less water, 76% less land, and 88% fewer carbon emissions.
Martie: What has been your biggest “aha” moment when building Moku Foods?
Matt: My biggest aha moment was when Chef Thomas Bowman finished the first prototype of Moku and I sampled it out to my family and friends. At the time it looked and tasted just like bacon. I couldn’t believe it. I knew I had something special to share with the world. The best part was that it was made from mushrooms which still blows my mind.
Martie: What’s in the pipeline next for Moku Foods?
Matt: We’re currently working on a Moku protein stick that has 10g of protein for people who are looking for a clean, delicious, savoury source of protein on the go. This product will look, taste, and cost the same as a beef stick.
Martie: Why is working with Martie important to Moku Foods?
Matt: When we have excess inventory, Martie is a great place for us to supply product to and be a place of discovery for people to try Moku for the first time. We look forward to a long lasting relationship with Martie.
