Income generation from wild mushrooms in marginal rural areas

Harvesting wild edible fungi for recreation, home consumption or to supply small local markets has traditionally been a popular activity in rural Finland. Yet some species, such as ceps (Boletus edulis) and pine boletes (Boletus pinophilus), which are well appreciated in Southern Europe, were not exploited commercially. In the past decade, international trade in previously unused mushroom resources has increasingly provided rural communities with additional earning opportunities. In this article we document the emergence in Eastern Finland of a wild edible fungi industry, describe its value chain, and assess its significance as a source of income for disadvantaged rural dwellers. The data for the analysis were collected through interviews with the management of Finland's largest wild mushroom business, and an extensive survey of the pickers who supply the company.