This time of year, Black Trumpets, Yellowfoot Chanterelle and Hedgehog mushrooms are usually widely available in Northern California and Oregon. "They are the three mainstays during winter," says Joe Salvo, President of Ponderosa Mushrooms in British Columbia, Canada. This winter season, however, an extended period of unseasonably cold weather is significantly impacting the availability. "There is not enough volume to make their production commercially viable."
Ponderosa Mushrooms ceased all harvesting activities before Christmas due to bad weather and re-opened after the holidays. "A week or 10 days after re-opening it got extremely cold and we've had hardly any wild mushroom supply since then," Salvo shared. In the past few weeks, there virtually haven't been any Yellowfoot Chanterelles, and no Hedgehogs have been picked either. "Just a few Black Trumpets were picked in Northern California, but they are very expensive. Due to limited availability, the field price to the picker is about four times what it was this time last year."
Top left: Black Trumpets. Bottom left: Yellowfoot Chanterelle and right: Hedgehog mushrooms.
Importing instead of exporting
On a positive note, Portugal and Spain still have Yellowfoot Chanterelle and Hedgehog mushrooms available. Usually, Ponderosa exports mushrooms to Europe this time of year, but the company is now importing. While the seasons in Portugal and Spain will wind down in a couple of weeks, the countries have more volume available than they typically do this time of year. "We are lucky their seasons started late and are going longer as a result. It allows us to still offer wild mushrooms to our customers this winter." Spain and Italy are also having a fantastic black winter truffle crop.
As soon as Portugal and Spain wind down, no commercial volumes of fresh wild mushrooms will be available anywhere in the world. "We are heading into no-mushroom land for the later part of February and March," Salvo said. However, Ponderosa offers a good selection of frozen and dried wild mushrooms as an alternative. In addition, cultivated Morels out of Asia will be offered when wild mushroom availability is nonexistent. These Morels are grown under covers outdoors and are offered about five to six months out of the year. "The Chinese really figured it out and are doing a fantastic job with their Morels"
Exports and tariffs
While about 50 percent of Ponderosa's sales are generated in the domestic Canadian market, the company also exports to Asia, Europe and the U.S. "Asia and Europe take about 25 percent and the remaining 25 percent is exported to the U.S. "Tariffs would have a significant impact, but Salvo is convinced it can't be happening. Just think about the implementation and collecting the tax money. The overall and immediate impact to both our countries' economies would be severe. In my opinion, all this talk is a bunch of smoke and mirrors. It's not the real focus, but a red herring."
For more information:
Joe Salvo
Ponderosa Mushrooms
Tel: (+1) 604-945-9700
[email protected]
www.ponderosa-mushrooms.com