The rains in August have helped bring forward the campaign. In the Catalan Pyrenees such as Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà and Val d'Aran, boletus edulis, chanterelles, and milk cap mushrooms have been collected.
Amateur mushroom pickers have begun their first mushroom harvests in the forests of the Lleida region, especially in the mid- and high altitudes of the Pyrenees. In August, rainfall in the Lleida Pyrenees was above average and, together with relatively low nighttime temperatures, has enabled the season to begin more than 15 days early, allowing for the collection of chanterelle mushrooms, boletus edulis, red chanterelles, and other mushrooms in areas of Alta Ribagorça, Alt Urgell, Pallars Sobirà, Pallars Jussà, and the Val d'Aran. Experts predict that this year's mushroom season will be higher than the average for the past 18 years.
Once again this year, restaurateurs and hoteliers in the mountain regions of Lleida are awaiting the arrival of customers looking to eat mushroom dishes and pick mushrooms, chanterelles, pigeon mushrooms, black mushrooms, orange chanterelles, reddish cat's tongues, scallops, golden mushrooms, and boletus edulis, among others. In addition, many mushroom pickers will take advantage of the trip to extend their stay for sightseeing.
Mushroom season normally starts in late August or early September, but this year the fruits have appeared early thanks to above-average rainfall in the spring and summer in the Lleida Pyrenees, and relatively low nighttime temperatures. For example, since the beginning of June, 414 mm of rain has fallen in Bonaigua (the average is 260 mm); in El Pont de Suert, 386 mm (240 mm average); and in Port del Comte, 201 mm (the average is 220 mm).
The Forest Technology Center of Catalonia emphasizes that the abundant rainfall has led to a mix of mushrooms from different seasons, such as the chanterelle mushrooms, which grow in the meadows in May and June, and the boletus edulis and chanterelle mushrooms, which don't usually emerge until well into September and October. As for predictions, the 2013 mushroom harvest could be the best in the last fifteen years, with up to 84,000 tons of mushrooms harvested, double the amount of last year. For this to happen, it is necessary that the nights remain cool, that temperatures remain good during the day, and that the winds remain very low.
Conferences and fairs
In addition to searching for mushrooms, visitors can participate in the 19th edition of the Gastronomic Mushroom Days in Alta Ribagorça (from October 11 to November 3, with the participation of 12 restaurants), the IX Gastronomic Days of Solsonès, the V Gastronomic Exhibition "Truffle Cuisine" and the XII Mycological Days of Pallars Jussà.
As for fairs related to the world of mushrooms or that include this product, we find the Grafting Fair of Peracamps-Llobera (October 5 and 6), the Autumn Fair of Sant Llorenç de Morunys (October 6), the Níscalo Fair in Coll de Nargó (October 12), the Mushroom and Mushroom Seeker Fair of Solsona (October 18 to 20), the Autumn Fair of Tírvia (October 26 and 27), the Mushroom Fair of Isona i Conca Dellà (October 27), the All Saints Fair of Oliana (November 1) and the Boletus Edulis Festival of Vilaller (November 2).
Source: Ara Lleida Bulletin / Llleidatur
Property Images: Infopirineo
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