dollar industry, that has brought an important income to rural population in China.
For example, in 2006 the total export of native Chinese black truffles was estimated to be up to 800 tons worth more than US$20 million; (iii) In Finland, a local
company which market EEMs, mainly porcini (B. edulis), and other species like
chanterelle (C. cibarius) and black trumpet (C. cornucopioides), emerge recently,
since 1997. At the peak of the mushroom production, the number of pickers from
marginal rural areas, supplying this local company can reach between 15,000 and
20,000 people. In 2003, this local Finish company harvested 1,100 tons mainly of
porcini with revenue of USD7.4 million (Cai et al. 2011); (iv) In Tanzania, the
commercialization of more than 35 native edible ectomycorrhizal species from
miombo woodland (in the genera Amanita, Boletus, Cantharellus, Lactarius,
Russula, and Suilllus), can be an important income for marginal rural population.
This commercialization process plays an important social function in the local
ethnic groups, by reducing conflicts between community and forest conservers.
The activity also provides alternative employment, improve food security to rural
disadvantaged groups especially women and old people, conspicuously improving
their livelihood (Tibuhwa 2013); (v) In Sweden, around 21,000 tons of edible wild
mushrooms were picked in 1997 (Lindhagen and Hörnsten 2000). In the Czech
Republic annual surveys carried out since 1994 to 2005 indicate that the total
amount of wild edible mushrooms picked during these years ranged from 13,500 to
29,700 tons (Šišák 2006). Meanwhile, Turtiainen et al. (2012) reported that 42 %
of all households were engaged in mushroom picking in a total harvest of
15,000 tons of wild edible mushrooms in Finland; (vi) The Pacific Northwest of
the United States is probably the region where there has been a most accurately
description of commercial picking of wild edible mushrooms. Widespread commercial harvesting of wild edible mushrooms started in the region in the 1980s. In
the area, recent immigrants especially from Southeastern Asia, can harvest
mushrooms profitable without the language skills and formal education required
for other jobs (Pilz and Molina 2002). Economically, the most important species in
the area are the American matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare), chanterelle
(C. cibarius), and morels (Morchella spp.). In 1992 a fresh weight of 590, 500, and
374 tons of morels, chanterelles, and American matsutake, respectively were
harvested in the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (Schlosser and Blatner
1995). In this process, 10,500 pickers participated and the estimated gross value
was of USD 41 million (Rowe 1997); and (vii) In Mexico, one of the most
important mycophilic countries, more than 400 species of wild edible mushrooms
are consumed. A high proportion of this, around 65 % are ectomycorrhizal. In the
country more than 200 species of wild mushrooms are also used currently in traditional medicine by local ethnic groups (Guzmán 2008; Bautista-González 2013).
There are different levels of commercialization of this wild mushrooms including:
(a) self-consumption; (b) commercialization by local pickers; (c) commercialization through chains of brokers; and (d) exportation to international markets. EEMs
constitute an element of paramount cultural, social, and economic importance in a
number of ethnic groups in the country, potentially linked to the conservation
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
201
For example, in 2006 the total export of native Chinese black truffles was estimated to be up to 800 tons worth more than US$20 million; (iii) In Finland, a local
company which market EEMs, mainly porcini (B. edulis), and other species like
chanterelle (C. cibarius) and black trumpet (C. cornucopioides), emerge recently,
since 1997. At the peak of the mushroom production, the number of pickers from
marginal rural areas, supplying this local company can reach between 15,000 and
20,000 people. In 2003, this local Finish company harvested 1,100 tons mainly of
porcini with revenue of USD7.4 million (Cai et al. 2011); (iv) In Tanzania, the
commercialization of more than 35 native edible ectomycorrhizal species from
miombo woodland (in the genera Amanita, Boletus, Cantharellus, Lactarius,
Russula, and Suilllus), can be an important income for marginal rural population.
This commercialization process plays an important social function in the local
ethnic groups, by reducing conflicts between community and forest conservers.
The activity also provides alternative employment, improve food security to rural
disadvantaged groups especially women and old people, conspicuously improving
their livelihood (Tibuhwa 2013); (v) In Sweden, around 21,000 tons of edible wild
mushrooms were picked in 1997 (Lindhagen and Hörnsten 2000). In the Czech
Republic annual surveys carried out since 1994 to 2005 indicate that the total
amount of wild edible mushrooms picked during these years ranged from 13,500 to
29,700 tons (Šišák 2006). Meanwhile, Turtiainen et al. (2012) reported that 42 %
of all households were engaged in mushroom picking in a total harvest of
15,000 tons of wild edible mushrooms in Finland; (vi) The Pacific Northwest of
the United States is probably the region where there has been a most accurately
description of commercial picking of wild edible mushrooms. Widespread commercial harvesting of wild edible mushrooms started in the region in the 1980s. In
the area, recent immigrants especially from Southeastern Asia, can harvest
mushrooms profitable without the language skills and formal education required
for other jobs (Pilz and Molina 2002). Economically, the most important species in
the area are the American matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare), chanterelle
(C. cibarius), and morels (Morchella spp.). In 1992 a fresh weight of 590, 500, and
374 tons of morels, chanterelles, and American matsutake, respectively were
harvested in the states of Idaho, Oregon, and Washington (Schlosser and Blatner
1995). In this process, 10,500 pickers participated and the estimated gross value
was of USD 41 million (Rowe 1997); and (vii) In Mexico, one of the most
important mycophilic countries, more than 400 species of wild edible mushrooms
are consumed. A high proportion of this, around 65 % are ectomycorrhizal. In the
country more than 200 species of wild mushrooms are also used currently in traditional medicine by local ethnic groups (Guzmán 2008; Bautista-González 2013).
There are different levels of commercialization of this wild mushrooms including:
(a) self-consumption; (b) commercialization by local pickers; (c) commercialization through chains of brokers; and (d) exportation to international markets. EEMs
constitute an element of paramount cultural, social, and economic importance in a
number of ethnic groups in the country, potentially linked to the conservation
6 Edible Ectomycorrhizal Mushrooms
201