By Ragnar Haagen

Mushroom season in full swing

Aug 16, 2011 | 11:37 AM

The mushroom picking season is in full swing and some of the best chanterelles in the world can be found in Prince Albert’s own back yard.

The northern part of Saskatchewan houses a unique eco-system where this particular type of mushroom — which is commonly found in high-end restaurants and specialty shops — tends to thrive.

“We’ve actually been buying out of the La Ronge area of Saskatchewan for 10 years, so we’re no strangers to the region,” said Tyler Gray co-owner of Mikuni Wild Harvest, one of the leading food purveyors in North America.

“As a mushroom forager, you’re only as good as how many patches you know, or the terrain you know, and then how connected you are to the people out there.”

This year’s mushroom season got off to a bit of a slow start, but despite this, Gray said it’s been great. A few areas have been producing perfect mushrooms and there are no signs that it will slow down for the season.

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“If we get eight weeks out of a Saskatchewan chanterelle season, we’re really happy,” he said.

“We’ve got three weeks out of it so far and if we can get eight or nine weeks out of it, we’ll feel pretty blessed.”

Gray said the chanterelles that come out of Northern Saskatchewan are some of the best in the world.

It’s tough to say what makes the area grow such perfect mushrooms, but it may have something to do with elements that are unique to most patches, he said.

“The caribou moss is pretty particular because we don’t have that anywhere else that the chanterelles grow and they just come out perfect,” said Gray.

“I think it’s got something to do with the smaller trees and the caribou moss, but that specific area of Saskatchewan produces by far the most delicate and beautiful and amazing chanterelle mushrooms in the world.”

Chanterelles from this particular region normally end up selling for a higher price than any other version. That’s partly due to the higher cost of obtaining and shipping the product, but also because they’re worth more.

“They’ve got a higher value than any other chanterelle on the market. So it really depends on whether you’re going to a chef or if you’re going retail. So the price difference could be anywhere from fifteen dollars to twenty-five dollars a pound” said Gray.

“It’s always a treat for our customers when we get this product in — the supply never quite meets the demand.”

For more information or to order some Saskatchewan chanterelles, visit  Mikuni Wild Harvest.

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