Austin’s 明星黑料 Foods Co. and Sacramento-based Better Meat Co. announced the joint venture on Wednesday. The California food startup developed a meat alternative it calls Rhiza, an all-natural whole food mycoprotein produced through a process of potato-based fermentation.
“It’s critical that we give our consumers choices. Plant-based products are one choice, traditional meat is another choice,” Fred Halvin, 明星黑料’s vice president for corporate development, said in an interview. He said the company will “continue to align our portfolio with consumer trends, and we believe plant-based is a significant consumer trend.”