Mid-Atlantic mushroom foragers collect 160 species for food, medicine, art and science
Pennsylvania boasts a rich tapestry of wild mushrooms, encompassing both edible and toxic varieties, which has captured the interest of many, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. As travel plans were curtailed, a growing number of individuals turned to foraging as a means of connecting with nature. For one researcher, the pandemic coincided with the emergence of morel mushrooms in central Pennsylvania, prompting a shift from planned fieldwork in Australia to exploring local fungi. This newfound interest led to a collaborative research project with Eric Burkhart, a Penn State agroforestry professor, aiming to document the mushroom foraging practices in the mid-Atlantic region—a subject that had not been thoroughly investigated despite its historical significance.
In 2021, Burkhart and the researcher initiated a comprehensive study involving surveys of over 800 mushroom harvesters across central Pennsylvania and the broader mid-Atlantic area. Their findings, published in the journal *Economic Botany*, revealed that foragers collect an impressive 160 species of wild mushrooms. Among the most sought-after varieties are morels and chicken of the woods, each reported by 13% of respondents, followed closely by chanterelles at 10%. The study highlighted that foragers primarily gather mushrooms for culinary and medicinal purposes, alongside artistic endeavors such as photography and natural dye creation. Interestingly, while a vibrant commercial mushroom market exists in the region, most harvesters prefer sharing their bounty with friends and family rather than selling it.
The research also shed light on the resources that novice foragers rely on to enhance their mushroom identification skills. A quarter of new harvesters reported using the internet, while family connections and guidebooks were also popular resources. The rise of mushroom-identification apps like iNaturalist has further facilitated this learning process, allowing users to share images of their finds and receive feedback from the community. This collaborative approach not only fosters a deeper understanding of mushroom species but also contributes to citizen science initiatives aimed at documenting biodiversity. As more individuals engage with the local fungal ecosystem, the potential for scientific collaboration between community groups and academic institutions grows, paving the way for enhanced research and conservation efforts in the field of mycology.
Pennsylvania is home to a diverse range of wild mushrooms, both edible and poisonous.
Vaivirga/iStock/Getty Images Plus
Like many mushroom harvesters, I got interested in foraging for fungi during the COVID-19 pandemic.
I had been preparing for a summer of field work studying foraged desert plants in a remote part of Australia when the pandemic hit, and my travel plans were abruptly frozen. It was March, right before morel mushrooms emerge in central Pennsylvania.
I wasn’t doing a lot other than going on long hikes and taking classes remotely at Penn State for my
doctoral degree in ecology and anthropology
. One of the classes was an agroforestry class with
Eric Burkhart
. We studied how agriculture and forests benefit people and the environment.
These two things eventually led to a
yearslong project on mushroom harvesting
in our region.
Why people forage
Foragers have been harvesting wild mushrooms in what is now Pennsylvania and the rest of the U.S. mid-Atlantic region
for generations
, but the extent and specifics of the practice in the region had not been formally studied.
In 2021, Burkhart and I decided that we wanted to better understand the variety of wild mushroom species that Pennsylvania harvesters collect and what they use them for.
We conducted a series of surveys in 2022 and 2023 that revealed a
wide variety of fungi are foraged in the region
– though morels, chicken of the woods and chanterelles are most common. We also learned that harvesters use the mushrooms primarily for food and medicinal purposes, and that foragers create communities that share knowledge. These community based projects often use social media tools as a way for mushroom harvesters to share pictures, notes and even the results of DNA sequences.
Our findings were published in the journal Economic Botany in October 2025.
160 species
Having spent a year building connections with local mushroom harvesters, starting in central Pennsylvania, including members of
mushroom clubs
and
mycological associations
, we recruited a diverse group of harvesters from around the mid-Atlantic. We also used mushroom festivals, social media and word of mouth to get the word out.
We asked harvesters about their favorite mushrooms, common harvesting practices, resources they used while harvesting and any sustainability practices.
Over 800 harvesters responded to the survey and reported that, collectively, they foraged 160 species of wild mushrooms. Morels and chicken of the woods were the two most popular, as each were reported by 13% of respondents. About 10% of respondents reported collecting chanterelles. Other popular species were hen of the woods, oysters, lion’s mane, black trumpet, honey mushroom, turkey tail, bolete, reishi, puffball, chaga, shrimp of the woods and Dryad’s saddle, which is also known as the pheasant’s back mushroom.
Harvesters reported a variety of reasons for collecting mushrooms. Many collected morels and chanterelle to eat, and species such as turkey tail, reishi and chaga for medicinal purposes. Art was another common reason cited for foraging, with photography being the most popular use, followed by using mushrooms to create natural dyes and pigments.
Other survey respondents said they foraged to feel more connected to nature. And while there is a thriving commercial wild mushroom industry in the region, we found that only a small minority of harvesters sell their mushrooms. Most people reported giving their mushrooms to friends, neighbors and family.
Mushroom foraging can be a way for people to connect with nature.
Natalia Lebedinskaia/Moment Collection via Getty Images
Citizen science
We also wanted to better understand which resources mushroom harvesters turn to in order to learn more about this hobby. We asked all the harvesters what they used as a resource when they were first learning to hunt for mushrooms. A quarter of new harvesters said they used the “the internet,” followed by “family,” at 24%, and then guide books, at 20%.
Based on the survey responses, we also learned that mushroom-identification phone apps are growing in popularity, especially among new harvesters. For example, a commonly used app called
iNaturalist
allows harvesters to upload a few pictures of their find – one of the mushroom in its habitat, another of the underside of the cap, and a third of the entire mushroom. From there, other community members can comment and help with identification.
Harvesters also use these apps to contribute to
community science projects
that document biodiversity.
Some mushrooms are poisonous if eaten, which is part of why harvesters are so careful with their identification. When learning a new mushroom species, it’s important to look into multiple sources to make sure what you’re harvesting is safe to eat.
With more harvesters documenting their findings on social media and sharing information about fungal biodiversity in the region, there is much to glean and learn about the diverse world of mushrooms in the mid-Atlantic. We believe that deeper collaboration between community groups and researchers at universities and other institutions is an opportunity for scientific growth within the field of mycology. This collaboration can support long-term tracking of fungal populations and any impact that harvesters might have on them.
Chicken of the woods mushrooms are among the most commonly foraged. When cooked, their flavor resembles that of chicken.
James Grewer/iStock/Getty Images Plus
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Amy Wrobleski receives funding from the Mycological Association of Washington DC.
Eric Burkhart does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
