The August rains have helped the campaign to progress. In the Catalan Pyrenees, such as Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà and Val d'Aran, ceps edulis, rossinyols, corriols and rovellons have already been harvested.
Amateur mushroom pickers have begun the first mushroom harvests in the forests of the Lleida region, especially in the mid- and high-altitude areas of the Pyrenees. In August, rainfall in the Lleida Pyrenees was above average and, together with relatively low night temperatures, has allowed the campaign to be brought forward by more than 15 days and has already allowed the collection of ceps, ceps edulis, nightingales, porcini mushrooms, etc. in areas of Alta Ribagorça, Alt Urgell, Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà and Val d'Aran. Experts predict that this year's mushroom campaign will be higher than the average of the last 18 years.
Once again, restaurateurs and hoteliers in the mountain regions of Lleida await the arrival of customers looking to eat mushroom dishes and go pick mushrooms, nightingales, popcorns, fredolics, orange nightingales, red cat's tongues, manetes, ears or ceps. In addition, many mushroom pickers will take advantage of the trip to extend their stay and do some sightseeing.
It is normal for the mushroom season to start at the end of August or the beginning of September, but this year the fruits have appeared earlier thanks to the fact that in spring and summer the rainfall has been above average in the Lleida Pyrenees and the night temperatures have been relatively low. For example, since the beginning of June, 414 mm have fallen in Bonaigua (the average is 260 mm); in Pont de Suert, 386 mm (240 mm on average), and in Port del Comte, 201 mm (the average is 220 mm).
The Forestry Technology Centre of Catalonia highlights that the heavy rainfall has led to the mixing of mushrooms from different seasons, such as the senderoles, which are born in the meadows in May and June, and the ceps edulis and rovellons, which do not usually appear until well into September and October. As for the predictions, the 2013 mushroom picking campaign could be the best in the last fifteen years and up to 84,000 tonnes of fruit could be obtained, double that of last year. For this to be the case, it is necessary that the cold remains at night, that there is a good temperature during the day and that the wind blows very little.
Conferences and fairs
In addition to the mushroom hunt, visitors can participate in the 19th edition of the Mushroom Gastronomic Days in Alta Ribagorça (from October 11 to November 3, with the participation of 12 restaurants), the 9th Solsonès Gastronomic Days, the 5th "Toffee Cuisine" Gastronomic Exhibition and the 12th Days.
As for the fairs related to the world of mushrooms or that include this product, we find the Empelt Fair in Peracamps-Llobera (October 5 and 6), the Autumn Fair in Sant Llorenç de Morunys (October 6), the Rovelló Fair in Coll de Nargó (October 12), the Fair (October 18 to 20), the Autumn Fair in Tírvia (October 26 and 27), the Mushroom Fair in Isona and Conca Dellà (October 27), the All Saints' Fair in Oliana (November 1) and the Boletus Edulis Festival in Vilaller (November 2).
Source: Ara Lleida Bulletin / Lleida Tur
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