MycoRant

The Santa Cruz Fungus Fair, which took place this past weekend attracted a good bit of press from various outlets (some before, some after). Read all about it:

Fungus Fest celebrates all things mushroom

Thousands of people headed to Santa Cruz, CA this weekend for the annual fungus fair. “The fascination starts with the food thing and then it becomes ‘My gosh, look at these things. They’re a mystery, mysterious. They’re ephemeral. They come and go,’” said Phil Carpenter. Carpenter is the co-chair of the 36th annual Santa Cruz Fungus fair, an event celebrating mushroom’s place in our ecosystem, featuring those unique to the Central Coast. It’s a curious hobby, but one that’s quickly understood when by spending time at the festival.

Fair celebrates local fungus

Foragers exploring the fair organized by the Fungus Federation will find examples of fungi from Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Hundreds of species collected earlier in the week are on display, cooking classes will showcase mushroom recipes, and identification classes will differentiate food-friendly fungi from the poisonous kind until 5p.m. today at the Louden Nelson Center. The Fungus Federation, an informal group of fungi enthusiasts with about 350 members, works all year to put together the Fungus Fair, Maley said. This is the weekend they showcase their passions.

Fungi Make For Fun Fair In Santa Cruz (includes video on right side)

From the toxic to the delicious, fungi lovers got a chance to see more than 300 varietals on display, just a small sample of the 3,000 to 5,000 found locally.”A lot of them are really beautiful to look at. It’s kind of interesting to figure out which ones are edible and avoid the ones that can kill you,” said Frank Dean, of San Jose.”I learned they’re very good with cookies and sweet. So, I try to make a gelato and here it is. It’s very good,” said Massimo Caporale, with Gelato Massimo.

Santa Cruz Fungus Fair: Mushroom fun

Glistening with an olive-gold allure, the Amanita phalloides has a disturbing appeal when viewed close up. Not isolated under glass or plastic – so close you could put your nose right on it accidentally, the death cap, as it is more commonly known, nestles innocently enough in its basket, surrounded by baskets of other poisonous cousins – none of them quite as alluring as this most deadly of toadstools. But that whiff of danger is just one of the things that makes a visit to the Santa Cruz Fungus Fair – now in its 36th year – not only educational but also entertaining.

Mushroom fair draws Santa Cruz fungofiles

Basket after basket of fungi nestle in landscaped mounds of fallen leaves and tree stumps in the Louden Nelson Center auditorium this weekend for the 36th annual Fungus Fair. “You walk in and it’s like you are in the forest,” Fungus Federation member Jim Maley said. “The smell is overwhelming.” Foragers exploring the fair organized by the Fungus Federation will find examples of fungi from Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties. Hundreds of species collected earlier in the week are on display, cooking classes will showcase mushroom recipes and identification classes will differentiate food friendly fungi from the poisonous kind until 5 p.m. today at the Louden Nelson Center.

Tags: California, Santa Cruz Fungus Fair