Mushroom ID Thread

[Platensek-po]

Would this be a Lobster?

yep

[boatloader]

Yes... Nothing looks, smells, or feels quite like them.

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[CP]

Matsutake?  or Amanita smithiana?

I go through this every year.  I've never got a positive ID on a Matsutake.

[ganghis]

I'm no expert but I'd guess since the base of the stipe is wider than the upper part that it's an amanita.  I've never actually had a Matsutake - that's not one I think I'll ever be comfortable with since if you get it wrong you get liver or kidney failure

[pianoman9701]

I'm no expert but I'd guess since the base of the stipe is wider than the upper part that it's an amanita.  I've never actually had a Matsutake - that's not one I think I'll ever be comfortable with since if you get it wrong you get liver or kidney failure

I agree. No Go! Notice in the attached picture that the stem tapers all the way to a point. Also, the aroma of a matsy is that of cinnamon and stinky feet. It's a pungent aroma that the amanita don't have. You should pick matsutake with someone familiar. Once you find them, you'll be an expert.

[CP]

Thanks.  I thought they were Amanita.  Tossing them out.

[pianoman9701]

Wash your hands, too.

[LDennis24]

Found some lobsters and Chanterelles! Expensive! They have them at Safeway in Shadle Center, Spokane. Lobsters are $36.99/lb and Chanterelles were I think $34.99/lb!

[pianoman9701]

Found some lobsters and Chanterelles! Expensive! They have them at Safeway in Shadle Center, Spokane. Lobsters are $36.99/lb and Chanterelles were I think $34.99/lb!

They're always expensive. COSTCO, too.

[Platensek-po]

Found some lobsters and Chanterelles! Expensive! They have them at Safeway in Shadle Center, Spokane. Lobsters are $36.99/lb and Chanterelles were I think $34.99/lb!

And the local shroom buyer pays $3.50 a lb for chanterelles

[pianoman9701]

Found some lobsters and Chanterelles! Expensive! They have them at Safeway in Shadle Center, Spokane. Lobsters are $36.99/lb and Chanterelles were I think $34.99/lb!

And the local shroom buyer pays $3.50 a lb for chanterelles

On a good day. Chanterelles this time of year pay the picker in the field $1-2/lb at most. Then the buyer gets a cut when he sells to the distributor. There's shrinkage because, especially this time of year, the mushrooms can lose 10% weight per day just shedding water. Now the distributor, who has large lease, reefers, utilities, wages, trucks, packaging and shipping costs, also has to turn a profit. All the while the product is shrinking each day. The the retailer sells them with all of their overhead. Believe me when I tell you that the margins in the wholesale mushroom business are tiny by the time the bills are paid.

[Jake Dogfish]

Anybody selling chanterelles for a dollar is getting ripped off.  I’ve seen people sell ones I would never eat for 4$ a #.

[pianoman9701]

Anybody selling chanterelles for a dollar is getting ripped off.  I’ve seen people sell ones I would never eat for 4$ a #.

Tell me all you know about the commercial fungi market. I have a few minutes. 

That was rude. I apologize.

[Platensek-po]

Found some lobsters and Chanterelles! Expensive! They have them at Safeway in Shadle Center, Spokane. Lobsters are $36.99/lb and Chanterelles were I think $34.99/lb!

And the local shroom buyer pays $3.50 a lb for chanterelles

On a good day. Chanterelles this time of year pay the picker in the field $1-2/lb at most. Then the buyer gets a cut when he sells to the distributor. There's shrinkage because, especially this time of year, the mushrooms can lose 10% weight per day just shedding water. Now the distributor, who has large lease, reefers, utilities, wages, trucks, packaging and shipping costs, also has to turn a profit. All the while the product is shrinking each day. The the retailer sells them with all of their overhead. Believe me when I tell you that the margins in the wholesale mushroom business are tiny by the time the bills are paid.

Wow I don’t know the mushroom buyers you know but the ones down the road are nothing like that. They are based out of barns on their property and literally just clean them and take them to the local grocery stores. No reefer,  no lease, no wages. All done by 2 families. I mean I get that they need to make money but buying them for $3.50 when they sell in the grocery store for between 30-50 a lb seems very low. Especially when I see them in the stores all old and dirty still. I’ve picked well over a 100lbs of chanterelles this year and wouldn’t even consider selling them for under them for under $10lb. But that’s me personally. On a side note I found a 6lb cauliflower and a buddy gave me some bears tooth that was part of a 40lb haul. Been my best shroom year so far.

[CP]

Found some lobsters and Chanterelles! Expensive! They have them at Safeway in Shadle Center, Spokane. Lobsters are $36.99/lb and Chanterelles were I think $34.99/lb!

I probably spend more than that picking the "free" one in the woods.