My Story: Foraging for Fun(gus) and Profit
Picking wild foods for restaurants and markets has become big business. But, as veteran mushroom hunter Connie Green of Napa, California, tells us, it’s not as easy as it looks.
How long have you been doing this? I’ve been hunting various wild foods all my life, and I’ve been selling mushrooms since 1981. I sell mainly to restaurants in California.
What’s your business like? I have a network of people who hunt mushrooms and sell them to me. Anybody can open a station to buy mushrooms and other foods, and get them cheap. But I’m always the one who gets the goods when things become scarce because I always make sure to pay well.
Why are so many people foraging? I think this is a very romantic business, like being a winemaker. I’m here in wine country in the hills, and I can look down on Napa Valley and see many wineries started by wealthy people who were tired of whatever life they were leading and turned to a more romantic life.
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
How has the business grown? I was doing this when nobody knew what a chanterelle was, and now it’s a sexy story in a lot of publications. So the word is out, and many people think there’s gold in them thar hills. But we pickers laugh at this. Going out and gathering $700 worth of mushrooms in a day? That happens, but not very often.
What are the biggest challenges? Many businesses are governed by the economy, but wild foods are also governed by nature. Farmers have irrigation, insurance and different types of frost protection. With wild foods, you have no such protection. And you must take good care of the habitat. That makes foraging from the same place possible.
Where is the biggest profit? The matsutake mushroom can go for as much as $600 a pound. It’s very popular in Japan, but its habitat there barely exists now. When the price is high, some towns in Oregon nearly empty out in search of the mushrooms.
Do you think the popularity of foraging is a fad? At one time, Americans were quite good at gathering wild foods, and we thought of them as just another food source. We lost that tradition for many years, while it’s been growing in Asia, Africa and Europe. We’re very much late to the dance, but once we start dancing, I can’t see us slowing down.
-
Strategies to Optimize Your Social Security Benefits
To maximize what you can collect, it’s crucial to know when you can file, how delaying filing affects your checks and the income limit if you’re still working.
By Jason “JB” Beckett Published
-
Don’t Forget to Update Beneficiaries After a Gray Divorce
Some states automatically revoke a former spouse as a beneficiary on some accounts. Waivers can be used, too. Best not to leave it up to your state, though.
By Andrew Hatherley, CDFA®, CRPC® Published
-
403(b) Contribution Limits for 2024
retirement plans Teachers and nonprofit workers can contribute more to a 403(b) retirement plan in 2024 than they could in 2023.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2024
Roth IRAs Roth IRA contribution limits have gone up for 2024. Here's what you need to know.
By Jackie Stewart Published
-
Best Foreclosure Sites for Finding Properties
Making Your Money Last Wondering how to find foreclosed homes for sale for your next residence or to flip for a profit? These websites will guide you to foreclosures and real estate-owned properties to buy.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnb
real estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
By Miriam Cross Published
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute Vacation
Travel Procrastinator? No matter. You can pull off a fun and memorable getaway on a moment's notice — without breaking the bank.
By Vaishali Varu Last updated
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?
insurance Instead of relying on rules of thumb, you’re better off taking a systematic approach to figuring your life-insurance needs.
By Kimberly Lankford Published
-
When Is Amazon Prime Day?
Amazon Prime In 2023 Amazon had two Prime Day events — one in July and another, called Big Deal Days, in October. We expect 2024 to follow the same schedule.
By Bob Niedt Last updated
-
How to Shop for Life Insurance in 3 Easy Steps
insurance Shopping for life insurance? You may be able to estimate how much you need online, but that's just the start of your search.
By Kaitlin Pitsker Published