The Egos, The Ecology and The Economics of Truffle Culture

Stephanie S. Jarvis completed her Masters of Science in Ecology, Evolution and Conservation Biology & Genetics at San Francisco State University (SFSU) under the guidance of world-renowned Mycologist, Dr. Dennis Desjardin. It was at SFSU where she created a taxonomic monograph of the Lycoperdaceae (puffball fungi) of California. Her undergraduate years were spent at Sonoma State University Stephanie studying Mycology, Plant Physiology & Chemistry with Dr. Chris Kjeldsen (founding member of Sonoma Mycological Association) and she was a research assistant to Dr. Richard Whitkus on the Sudden Oak Death research task force. While in college Stephanie became a Certified Arborist through the National Society of Arboriculture and created a training program for arborists to study and learn to identify fungal plant pathogens for better tree risk assessment. In 2010 she began her consulting company, Pacific Truffle Growers (PTG) due to multiple requests to rehabilitate unproductive truffle orchards. With PTG she manages truffle orchards throughout Northern California and currently assists clients in Oregon, Washington and most recently – North Carolina. Her newest truffle endeavor is the Urban Truffle Grower – growing FOOD FORESTS FOR THE FUTURE, a program in the early development stages for property owners with under an acre of land. Why grow only truffles for your future generations when you can grow multiple types of food on trees!