LOUISVILLE, Ky.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--FirstBuild, the global co-creation community and innovation lab for GE Appliances, is excited to announce the launch of Mella, the Smart Mushroom Fruiting Chamber. Mella is the first countertop appliance made for growing edible gourmet mushrooms at home and automates the process for consistent results every time. Mella is available for presale now with early bird pricing starting at $349 and is expected to begin shipping to backers in Spring 2022.
Mella builds upon FirstBuild’s prior presale successes, including the Opal Nugget Ice Maker, which earned more than $2.7 million in its Indiegogo campaign. Serving another passionate community, Mella controls and automates the process of growing edible gourmet mushrooms. It creates the ideal environment for a variety of gourmet mushrooms by automating humidity and providing airflow, making the process easy for beginner pinners to mycelium masters and unearths a world of mushroom cultivation possibilities.
“Following the massive trend of sourdough bread making at home, we saw that #mushroomgrowing was also exploding with millions of views across social platforms. While breadmakers are readily available, our team found no current way for those interested in mushroom growing to garner consistent results and immediately wanted to invent a solution. We’re excited to introduce Mella and bring the fascination of growing mushrooms into even more homes,” said André Zdanow, Executive Director of FirstBuild and Small Appliances at GE Appliances.
Mella is being brought to life through co-creation with mushroom experts, including CEO and Co-Founder of North Spore Eliah Thanhauser, CEO and Co-Founder of FreshCap Tony Shields, Bon Appetit’s Brad Leone, and other leading mushroom experts.
“I'm always looking for new and innovative ways to help enthusiasts find success with the mushroom growing process. Our collaboration with FirstBuild is exciting because Mella makes mushroom growing practical for hobbyists and small-scale growers by giving them a low-maintenance way to enjoy our grow kits - and the mushroom growing experience - with minimal effort and maximum reward,” said Eliah Thanhauser, CEO and Co-Founder at North Spore.
** To see Mella in action, click HERE
Mella Product Specs & Features:
- Pricing: Presale prices starting at $349 plus shipping - a 27% savings off anticipated MSRP
- Size: Approx. 25.25" W x 16.50" H x 16.50" D, including side tank
- Sleek design: Stainless steel construction and clear viewing door
- Easy Environmental Control: Automated humidity, and fresh air exchange systems
- Quick Clean: Removable, easy-fill water basin, removable interior fan, and wipe clean between use
About FirstBuild
FirstBuild invents what’s next for the home. Rapidly taking product concepts from mind to market, FirstBuild’s global Co-Creation mission enables anyone to submit appliance product ideas or contribute to the ideas of others and participate in its hands-on process with an in-house team of world-class engineers and design experts. FirstBuild strives to launch a dozen new products or features each year, with the ultimate goal of launching them at scale—often to their parent company, GE Appliances, a Haier Company. Whatever you’re passionate about, come make it here. For more information on how to get involved, visit FirstBuild.com.
About GE Appliances
At GE Appliances, a Haier company, we come together to make "good things, for life." We're creators, thinkers and makers who believe that anything is possible and that there’s always a better way. We’re a company powered by our people, made stronger through our diversity — allowing us to grow closer than ever before to our owners, anticipate their needs and enhance their lives. Since 1907, we’ve built innovative, quality products that are trusted in half of all U.S. homes. We sell appliances under the Monogram®, Café™, GE Profile™, GE®, Haier and Hotpoint brands. Our products include refrigerators, freezers, cooking products, dishwashers, washers, dryers, wine & beverage centers, air conditioners, small appliances, water filtration systems and water heaters. To learn more about our company, our brands, our Corporate Citizenship efforts, our economic impact, and working for GE Appliances visit www.geappliancesco.com.
