Chanterelle question

[ashgale]

while visiting a local farmers market recently,
one stall was devoted solely to the sale of mushrooms, not just the usual mushroom (although there were plenty of these on display) but of the more exotic types,
some of which I could not recognise, but at the back were several large trays (the type that bakers use for delivery I think) of what was labelled as Scottish chantrelles,
the stall was doing a roaring trade, and customers were thronging around the stall about 6 deep, so I could not get near enough to ask any questions,
so went for a browse round the other stalls while things quietened down and I could get near enough to ask a few questions,
but, as usual got it wrong, as on returning about three quarters of an hour later, to find an empty space where the stall had been,
the next stallholder said that the mushrooms had sold out completely so the owners had packed up and departed for home,

one of the questions I was going to ask the stall holder but never got a chance to, were the chantrelles farmed or wild ?
so, does anyone know if chantrelles can be produced commercially like ordinary mushrooms ?
if they were indeed wild ones, then I think that they will soon become an endangered species, as there must have been literally thousands of them in those trays on display,
and with them coming from as far away as scotland, this stall would not presumably be the only vendor of them,
are there laws on picking wild fungi to this extent ?

ashgale

[earthdragon64]

They would have been wild, Chanterelles can't be grown commercially. They are quite widespread and with the warm, damp conditions this summer, plentiful.

Commercial pickers in Scotland should abide by the Scottish mushroom pickers code of conduct, those buying from pickers should only buy from those people following the code.

Whether this works in practice, is completely different.

Regards, Audrey.

[fairplay]

I would have automatically assumed the law was being broken here UNLESS THE VENDER could PROVE the fungi were obtained legally (from land where the owner has consented)

So yes, they will quickly become an endangered species if there were 'thousands on display' and all sold, times the number of farm markets all selling these fungi, plus all the people collecting more than they could possibly eat in a few days. The omens don't look good.

Neil.

[The Woodman]

I was in a town recently and happened on a pick up truck loaded with such trays level to the gunwhales with Chanterelles. The driver was doing a deal quite openly with a third party and when I questioned another nosey parker, he told me there were £2k's worth on view and the car park was a regular trading place.

[Bertie]

isn't it a bit early for bumper crops of chanterelles or has the first flush started in Scotland?

[ashgale]

thanks for the replies,
the farmers market is only held once a month so i will have to wait untill then before i can ask the vendor about the origins and possibly legal aspects of his stock,

ashgale.

[fairplay]

Go for the jugular by saying you know this place "in the woods" where you can get loads of Chanterelles "under cover of darkness" and would he be interested and what price will he agree.

If you simply ask him the source, he will give a prepared answer if dodgy.

Neil.