Wild Mushrooms Business Ideas For Seasonal or Year Round Earnings

Mushrooms, berries, nuts, herbs and other non-timber products in European forests have a great, not yet sufficiently exploited economical potential. After carrying on EU-financed research in 14 forest areas in Europe, including one in Suceava (north of Romania), it was concluded that this products’ worth can easily surpass timber value. In this article, we’ll just focus on the several wild mushrooms business ideas. 

Starting 2000 – 2002, mushroom consumption in Romania increased to an extent that led to massive imports. But one of the most sought after mushrooms on European markets, the cep (or porcino) grows in the woods in Romania.

Demand for wild mushrooms comes from farmers’ markets, supermarkets, restaurants, fast food chains, pizza stores, canned goods producers and hotels, as well as EU markets.

Wild mushrooms business ideas. Picking

Obviously it’s worth having a collecting center in areas where large quantities of mushrooms are available, in hilly and mountain regions. Collecting centers usually hire locals and function outside mushroom season, collecting berries, which are also greatly in demand on the EU markets.

Once collected, the mushrooms are sold to local producers or exporters.

The buyer pays for the transportation and the labor, so there’s no financial effort into setting up a collecting center.

Wild mushrooms business ideas. Exporting

An exporter can be set up with a pretty low investment. A refrigerator truck and storing space are all that is needed.

If the investor wants to sell the goods with added value, drying them first for instance, there will be an additional investment in a dehydrator. But it pays off, as dried mushrooms sell for almost four times the price of the raw ones.

 

Wild mushrooms business ideas. Growing

Wild mushrooms species can also be grown very successfully. It’s actually the most productive culture, with 5 – 6 harvests per year.

The initial investment is minimal. You can start up in a basement or some other room. The material involved – spawn, straws and manure – is cheap and easy to get.

There is also the possibility to finance this business with European funds or a state subvention.

Credits: epochtimes-romania.com, gazetadeagricultura.info, adevarul.ro, agroromania.manager.ro