Mushroom hunting in Manitoba can harvest big money - Action News
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Manitoba

Mushroom hunting in Manitoba can harvest big money

From dirt to dollars some Manitoba mushrooms can yield a nice payday for those willing to search them out.

Mushroom hunting in Manitoba can harvest big money

10 years ago
Duration 1:48
From dirt to dollars some Manitoba mushrooms can yield a nice payday for those willing to search them out. CBC's Chris Glover reports.

From dirt to dollars some Manitoba mushrooms can yield a nice payday for those willing to search them out.

Cam Tran, a Winnipeg chef and the president of Slow Food Winnipeg, showed his recent haul, includingporcini, morel and lobster mushrooms, to CBC Information Radio hostMarcy Markusa.

Cam Tran, a Winnipeg chef and the president of Slow Food Winnipeg, finds an edible red boleta mushroom. (Chris Glover/CBC)
Tran said the morels sell for $40 a poundand you can get up to $400 a poundfor the lobster mushrooms.

But he's not about to tell anyone where to find them.When it comes to mushroom hunting, secrecy is paramount, Tran said.

CBC's Marcy Markusa poses with Cam Tran and a few of his mushroom finds. (Marcy Markusa/CBC)
"As a mushroom hunter, people that are not educated, they end up pulling all the mushrooms out. When that happens, the entire ecosystem dies off," he said.

"We try to keep it secret for people that knowhow to pick it properly, so every year you at least have something in return."

He said there are a few tricks to finding them he is willing to share, however.

"That's what we look for," he said. "Go right into the pine trees."

Tran has been foraging for mushrooms for two decades.He said if you don't know what you're doing, it can be dangerous.

"You could actually get poisoned," he said. "You could kill yourself. A lot of mushrooms out there are quite toxic."

In fact, the province warns inexperienced people not to pick mushrooms. Anotherfact:Tran said you should not 'pick' them at all, but cut them out.He said pulling themout of the ground disturbs the growing area.

Tran uses his finds in dishes at his downtown restaurant.

"I could range from three up to 10 dishes with it," he said.

Tran said using mushrooms he finds and prepares on his own helps him - and his customers - avoid chemical additives.

"So I could eat healthier, get the natural products and taste the natural products," he said.