Local mushroom crop poised to boom

The highly sought-after Morel. Photo by Alan Heath

Despite the downturn in Oregon's economy, one industry in the Sisters area is, well, mushrooming.

According to Alan Heath, Special Forest Products Manager for the Sisters Ranger District, last year's forest wildfires are almost certain to produce a bumper crop of morel mushrooms this year.

Although the scientific mechanism has not been established, Heath says it's commonly known that abundant quantities of mushrooms start popping in the wake of forest fires.

The morel mushroom is a popular edible variety that is naturally common in the Sisters area.

Astute mushroom pickers, however, are mindful of the fire phenomenon and keep a close eye on recently burned-over areas. Locally, the Cache Mountain and Eyerly fires provided a combined area of more than 20,000 acres of burned national forest land that is now prime mushroom habitat.

"We've got people coming from all over that have been doing this for years," said Heath.

Spring is when the delectable fungi begin popping up, and Heath has already received mushroom picker inquiries from all around the Northwest and from as far away as Montana, Colorado and South Dakota.

Heath says that the mushroom explosion is currently showing signs of beginning.

"It's starting now at lower elevations and will be done by June," he said.

Still he cautioned that, while a mushroom boom is expected, it's not necessarily a sure thing.

"With these mushrooms, you never know what's going to happen until it happens," he explained. "The stars have to be lined up correctly for an outstanding crop. With the fires, that's the first thing you need. Now, we need good weather conditions to grow the mushrooms."

What the pickers, then, are hoping for is a good shot of moisture now, followed by some reasonably warm weather that doesn't dry things out too much.

The mushrooms seem to grow best in areas where the ground has been burned but not severely scorched.

Morel mushrooms are brownish colored and cone-shaped; they grow on a white stalk.

"Morels are pretty safe," said Heath, "and the nearest toxic look-alikes don't have a stem."

Still, it's always best to know exactly what you're looking for before putting anything in your mouth.

Typically, mushroom buyers come into an area and buy from the pickers in the forest. Good quality morels bring about $5 to $10 per pound; lower quality specimens suitable for drying bring less.

Heath estimates that a pound would about fill a gallon container, although varying moisture content affects the weight.

Heath said that many of the pickers work year-round and often collect other forest products, such as pine cones, as well (see related story).

Matsutake mushrooms are even more popular and expensive, but there are no commercial quantities in the Sisters area. Heath said they do grow locally in small numbers, but principally in late-successional reserves where harvesting is not permitted.

An annual commercial mushroom harvest permit costs $100 and can be used in other national forests, as well. Daily permits are also available at a cost of $2 per day, with a minimum of 10 days.

Personal use mushroom harvest permits may be obtained at no charge and are good for 10 days, with a harvest limit of two gallons per day.

Heath stressed that, although personal use permits are free, all pickers must be in possession of a permit.

Personal use mushrooms may not be sold, bartered or exchanged. They are for personal use only.

Heath also pointed out that all vehicles in the burned areas are restricted to numbered system roads. Pickers may wander off the roads on foot, but all vehicles must stay on the road system.

Further information can be obtained at the local office of the Sisters Ranger District, 549-7700.