Ames Tribune Joygrow mushrooms — a small, niche-market, Iowa business — has been finding strength through the pandemic by connecting with other businesses, like area restaurants that use its local produce. “I really want to bring awareness to the network of other businesses that make my business possible,” owner Aaron Johnson said, “especially in this time now when everybody is truly struggling. I want to encourage people to support local by eating and buying local.” Joygrow’s mushroom production has increased to about 150 pounds per week, up from approximately 25 pounds per week when Johnson first started the company in 2015. He’s had an emphasis on diversifying the offerings, and right now, has between a dozen and 15 strains of species in production.