Sarcodon (Hydnum) fuscoindicum collected commercially?

[Thomas O'Dell]

A few comments. 
First, although most commercial harvesters are accurate in their 
identifications, I have seen Amanita muscaria buttons in the market (in 
Olympia,Wa) advertised as "puffballs". Willingness to collect and sell 
wild mushrooms is no credential for accurate id. I agree that some 
regulation would be useful. 
Second, although i have heard occaisonal words of caution r.e. "lobster" 
I was certainly taught that it was a safe edible in our region, the 
Pacific Northwest (perhaps safer than in the S.E. where more species of 
Hyphomyces occur, some on Amanita spp.).
 So not all mycologist condem the lobster, I don't think 
its especially good but I have eaten it occaisionally.
Third, saying that academics lack "real" knowledge of fungi is rude and 
accomplishes nothing of value. Don't you have anything better to do than 
insult people who may love mushrooms as much as you?

On 28 Feb 1996, Mycophagy wrote:

> First of all, most pickers and brokers don't know the botanical names of
> most of the wild mushrooms they pick. They know them well, and have a
> great track record of getting their picks right. All of us who appreciate
> fine food should applaud them.

> We have good frutings of "Lobster" mushrooms here. The local mycologists
> wouldn't touch them because they said that you cannot tell what you are
> getting. It was the commercial market that made me aware that you can
> safely eat the lobster mushroom. So while the local mycologists won't eat
> them, me and my friend are both enjoying them in season and making money
> off of selling them to the chefs.
> I think the academic community has to decend from its Ivory Tower and get
> down with the real experts on wild edible mushrooms. People like me.
> 
> 

todell at u.washington.edu
Mycology is better than Urology!