The Four Peaks Medicinals team of psychoeducator Katie LaRue, left, owner Nicole Erdrich and general manager Carmen Quinn pose together in upper Bidwell Park on Sunday, March 24, 2024 in Chico, California. (Brett Edwards/Contributed)
Nicole Erdrich’s interest in mushrooms, particularly their mental and physical medicinal qualities, started in her in her 20’s. Over the years, her regard for mushrooms grew into an ardent desire to share the many advantages of the fungi with others.
“I care about people’s mental and physical health and helping them,” said Erdrich. “I have a deep passion for the therapeutic benefits of plant and mushroom wellness, having experienced cognitive, immune and digestive benefits among other benefits from using them myself for many years.”
In 2021, she brought her personal experience, knowledge and passion together to found Four Peaks Medicinals, a Chico-based company specializing in functional mushroom and adaptogen blend products to support “greater energy, clarity and balance.”
The company’s products — with self-describing names like “Revive and Thrive,” “Harmony Blend,” Radiant Mind,” “Vibrant Mind” and “Zen Vitality” — are all locally produced and range in form from a powder that may be added to coffee or tea, to capsules and glycerin-based extracts.
The products include Lion’s Mane, Turkey Tail and Reishi mushrooms, in various combinations depending on the blend, which the company sources locally through Parasol Mycology Farm in Paradise.
“Our collaboration with Parasol Mycology isn’t just about business,” said Erdrich. “It’s about shared values and a commitment to sustainability, organic practices and the local economy.”
Four Peaks Medicinals’ blends also include Cordyceps mushrooms as well as Ashwagandha and Rhodiola root. Though not available locally, these ingredients are “organic and sustainably sourced from reputable companies,” said Erdrich
“All of our products are made of conscious compounds and are farm to bottle, capsule or bag,” said Erdrich.
In addition to sourcing “only the best” ingredients for her products, Erdrich said she also sourced “the best people” to work with her.
“I created the original recipes and then sourced a group of people — all women, all my friends — with the skills to make the products and support the business,” Erdrich explained. “A big part of Four Peaks is supporting not just our customers and myself but also other women. It’s this team of close friends that has helped me create this little machine of a mushroom business.”
The mission of Four Peaks Medicinals is to “empower individuals to embrace the therapeutic benefits of mushrooms with our products and through education,” said Erdrich. “Our aim is to be a leading force in educating and advocating for the safe and responsible use of functional mushrooms.”
To that end, Four Peaks offers no-charge phone consultations with both new and existing customers.
“A big part of our business is making sure that we can help educate and inform people about the benefits of functional mushrooms and talk about how they can offer mental and physical health support,” said Carmen Quinn, general manager. “In phone consultations, we go over areas in customers lives that they would like to improve and figure out which of our products are best fitting for them. Phone consultations are personally my favorite part of my job.”
With a strong team in place and growing distribution — through the company’s website and through local retail outlets including S&S Produce, New Earth Market, Ikoda Collective and Bidwell Perk, as well as direct sales at farmers markets, fairs and special events — Erdrich is looking toward the future. Some of the new offerings she’s considering include classes, retreats, expanded phone consultations and skin care products.
“We are dedicated to providing natural alternatives to pharmaceutical medicine and supporting people in taking their own wellness into their own hands,” she said. “We want to continue doing that and expand because, we love what we do.”
Reach Kyra Gottesman at kgottesman@chicoer.com
