When you visit the Autumn French Market at Villa Avianto on Saturday, 6 April, go and have a look at the variety of mushrooms and mushroom products for sale at the Spora Stall.
Spora is a local startup specialising in fungi-based products that are accessible to people with green fingers, cooking enthusiast, and health-conscious individuals.
Janike van der Westhuizen and Tiaan Venter, a couple with a passion for fungi and sustainable living, created Spora in the beginning of the year.
“We have focused on not only selling our products through our website, but also displaying at local craft and farmers markets to build a relationship within our local community,” Janike explains.
“We aim to make our products accessible to everyone by catering to a variety of individual interests and lifestyles. Our supply of fresh gourmet mushrooms and mushroom-based herb blends are sure to excite any foodie. Our Lion’s Mane mushroom capsules are at the forefront of our business and offer natural alternatives for cognitive health to all our clients. Additionally, we are excited to have our ‘At Home Mushroom Grow-Kits’ on the shelves of a local nursery from mid-April.”
Janika says at Spora they place a large premium on sustainability, transparency, and supporting local businesses.
“From raw material sourcing to packaging, we aim to produce as little waste as possible and work in partnership with local companies to compost our natural, raw material wastage, as well as to responsibly recycle our synthetic materials.
“Spora’s production is kept exclusively in-house, thereby establishing transparency to our clients as well as ensuring quality control and products devoid of any fillers. We are in the midst of developing our new product range aimed at intermediate mushroom enthusiasts as well as looking at expanding our facility within the coming year to target the broader market.”
In the meantime, Janika and Tiaan invite all to visit them at the French Market to see and learn more about their products.
The Autumn French Market occurs on Saturday from 08:00 to 15:00, at Villa Avianto in Kwaggafontein.
Entry is R40, R30 for students and adults older than 60 years, R20 for Gr. 8 to Gr. 12 learners, and R10 for Gr. 1 to Gr. 7 learners. Pre-schoolers may enter for free.
