While many in Finland have lamented the cool and rainy start to summer this year, mushroom foragers have reason to celebrate.
According to mushroom expert Tuija Biskop, the abundant rainfall has significantly benefited this year’s crop — especially in southern parts of the country.
Biskop, who heads the Central and Southern Ostrobothnia branch of the Martha Organisation, says the season is not only off to a strong start, but also unusually early.
"So far the yield looks very good, and at least in the southern half of Finland, mushrooms are appearing earlier than usual. There have already been impressive amounts of chanterelle sightings in the south," Biskop said.
Porcini mushrooms and brittlegills are also showing up in large numbers, she added.
"There’s a chance we’ll get two porcini harvests this year. And we've already seen slippery jacks, which, despite their name, are excellent edible mushrooms."
Rain still needed for continued harvest
Despite the promising start, Biskop cautions that it’s too early to declare this year an exceptional one for mushrooms.
"Long dry periods could still reduce the final yield. To enjoy a long mushroom season, we’ll need steady rainfall well into the autumn."
While many regions have seen persistent rain this summer, others have remained relatively dry. Drier areas include parts of North Karelia and central and northern Lapland.
"When looking at the whole of Finland, local differences in mushroom availability can be significant," Biskop noted.
"Even within a single region, rainfall levels can vary dramatically."
