How about taking advantage of the holidays and the good weather to go mushroom hunting? It’s the season if you walk in the forest. But it is not always easy to recognize them, and know which ones are edible. This weekend is held in La Roche-sur-Yon, in Vendée, the mushroom fair, organized by the mycological society. This Saturday, many curious people and professionals came to learn more about these fruits of the forest, and also to exchange tips.
Mycophiles and mycophages
In his jar, Gérard Herbreteau, president of the mycological society of la Roche-sur-Yonproudly exhibits a soft, squishy-looking shape. “Be careful, it smells strong!” he warns, opening the jar. A red clathra, also called a witch’s heart, listed with 200 others mushroom species at the village hall of Bourg-sous-la-Roche, in La Roche-sur-Yon. What to make the happiness of mycophilesmushroom lovers.
For Paul and Philippe, two “mycophages“, mushroom eaters as they like to call themselves, there is no secret: to find, you have to have the eye.
“There is a forest at Les Herbiers, the problem is that it is private, says Paul. I ventured there once.” “–We’re going in camouflage!”jokes Philippe.
© Radio France
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Leonie Cornet
Apart from sharing good spots, the show is also there to learn more about mushrooms, and in particular whether they are edible or not. On the show, three different labels: green for edible, yellow for edible without it being really recommended, red for toxic. “I find it important, and then the new generation is not interested in mushrooms.” adds Paul.
4,600 species in Vendée, 200 on display
And yet, among the many retirees who flock here, two young people aged 26 and 27 walk the aisles, Héléna and Kévin, notebooks in hand. “We are both pharmacists, and to improve our training, and see even more mushrooms, we come here because we don’t often see them at the pharmacy, explains Helena. It is important to better inform those who come to ask us questions. Helena reminds us thatin case of doubt, it is better to seek advice from a pharmacy before cooking a pan-fried forest.
It would exist 4,600 species of mushrooms in Vendée according to some enthusiasts met at the show. 200 of them are on display this year at the La Roche-sur-Yon show, it’s 100 less than last year. And for Gérard Herbreteau, the president of the mycological society of La Roche-sur-Yon, it is partly because of the lack of rain : “You need moisture in the soil and positive humidity, he explains. Mushrooms have two enemies: extreme drought and frost.”
The Roche-sur-Yon mushroom fair is held until 6 p.m. this Sunday evening, at the village hall of Bourg-sous-la-Roche. Admission costs three euros. And if you rather live in Loire-Atlantique, know that there is an exhibition entirely dedicated to mushrooms at the Pierre-Attelée school in Saint-Brévin this Saturday and Sunday October 29 and 30, admission is free. and free.