By Andi Anderson
Iowa mushroom gatherers who want to sell wild‑harvested mushrooms have the opportunity to attend certification workshops offered in Ames on March 28 and April 11.
These workshops are part of the Iowa Wild‑Harvested Mushroom Certification Program, which is required for anyone wishing to sell any of the eight state‑regulated mushrooms in Iowa. The program is provided by Iowa State University Extension and Outreach and is open to anyone interested in mushroom identification and safety.
The mushrooms covered under this certification include morel, oyster, chicken of the woods, hen of the woods, chanterelles, bear’s head tooth or lion’s mane, pheasant back, and black trumpet. Proper identification is essential because many edible mushrooms have look‑alike species that may be harmful or poisonous.
According to Chelsea Harbach, director of diagnostics with the Plant and Insect Diagnostic Clinic at Iowa State, Iowans who have not been certified to sell mushrooms for three or more years must recertify this year.
She also explained that out‑of‑state mushroom hunters may register, although they should confirm certification requirements in their own states before selling locally.
The workshops are designed to prepare attendees for the certification exam that follows the training. Each workshop includes two required components. The first part is an online webinar is held on Wednesday evening before the workshop date.
This webinar lasts one hour and covers important identification and safety information. All topics discussed in the webinar appear on the certification exam, and participants must score 80% or higher to pass.
The second part is an in‑person session will be held in Ames from 1 to 3 p.m. on the listed dates. This session is required for participants seeking certification. Those who pass the exam will receive both a full‑size certificate and a wallet‑sized version.
Participants may register for certificate or non‑certificate options. Certificate registration costs $80, while non‑certificate registration is $60. Registration must be completed at least one week before each workshop, and exact location details will be shared with registered participants.
For more details, participants can visit the Iowa Wild‑Harvested Mushroom Certification website or contact Chelsea Harbach at pidc@iastate.edu.
Photo Credit: istock-guruxoox
Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle