VietNamNet Bridge – When rain comes, people in southeastern provinces will collect mushrooms in cashew, coffee and rubber farming areas.

Macrolepiota, a specialty mushroom in rainy season

The most popular mushroom species around this time of year is macrolepiota. Lucky collectors can earn up to several million dong in a couple of hours.

Because macrolepiota is delicious and only grows in a short time during the rainy season, people are still willing to pay a high price for it.

Currently, traders buy young macrolepiota for VND200,000 (US$9) per kilo while prices of older ones are VND100,000-150,000. Prices may rise two to three times at the market.

Do Thanh Toan shows a handful of macrolepiota mushrooms he picks – Photos: Phu Li

Doan Van Su, a local in Hung Phuoc Commune, Bu Dop District, Binh Phuoc Province, said he has picked 28 kilos since the macrolepiota season started. Yet the area of wild macrolepiota in the southeast has shrunk due to the overuse of herbicide.

People begin picking macrolepiota from 5 a.m., said Do Thanh Toan in Thanh Hoa Commune.

Mushrooms can only be collected by hand, he said, adding mushrooms cannot grow anymore if people use tools like hoe or shovel to get them.

SGT