Over the past few weeks, I've heard from so many of you sharing your experiences with RyzaPods, especially stories about growing your very first flush of mushrooms. I was struck by how many of these stories had something in common: people who had never grown mushrooms before discovering mycology, gaining confidence, and finding a new hobby along the way.
By my estimate, Ryza helped thousands of people experience that for the first time. That's something I'm incredibly proud of.
After four years and 30,000 RyzaPods lovingly made for our amazing RyzaGrowers, it was time for me to turn the page.
One thing that may not have been obvious is that Ryza was truly a one-person operation. I personally made every single pod, from preparing and sterilizing the substrate to packaging and shipping each order. Following a previous and painful business failure during the COVID era, Ryza gave me an opportunity to start fresh. There was something deeply satisfying about returning to simple, tangible work: crafting substrate in a package that made growing mushrooms accessible to just about anyone. It was a different kind of business, and in many ways, exactly what I needed. It also allowed me to spend far more time with my young children than most other jobs could afford me. For that especially, I am grateful to you.
Over the years, Ryza added up to more than 1,000 trips to the post office, 900 autoclave cycles, and countless hours of hands-on work. Every single RyzaPod passed through my hands. Eventually, I reached a point where I felt ready to move on, explore new opportunities, and get back to the next chapter of my life and career (whatever that looks like in this new world of AI).
Looking back, I consider Ryza a smashing success. Not necessarily because of the number of pods we sold, but because of the number of people we helped discover and enjoy this wonderful hobby.
To everyone who placed an order, shared a photo, sent a note, asked a question, or simply gave mushroom growing a try: thank you. I genuinely appreciate having been a small part of your journey.
And while RyzaPods are no longer being made, our commitment to supporting existing RyzaGrowers hasn't gone away. If you still have a pod on your shelf or a grow underway, we're still here to help.
It's been a great four years. Thank you for being part of it.
Happy Growing,
Kurt Michael Swanson
Founder, Ryza, LLC
