Recent New Hampshire legislation requires anyone seeking to harvest, identify or distribute wild harvested mushrooms for sale to receive a license from the NH Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) Food Protection Section. To apply for the license, you must first successfully complete a course in safe wild mushroom identification and harvesting practices. Experienced identifiers, harvesters and distributors are eligible to take an abbreviated course, which includes 4 hours of in-person instruction followed by an examination.
The 5-year mushroom foraging certification provide by this course meets the criteria required by the State of New Hampshire for experience foragers only. Signups will receive a study guide and slides 3 weeks ahead of the class.
Limited to 20 people. Refunds are only available to those who have not received study materials prior to the class.
TIME AND PLACE
University of New Hampshire
181 Spaulding Hall
38 Academic Way
Durham NH 03824
October 6, 2023
Sunday 9am-5pm
For accommodations near the location, please click here.
ABOUT YOUR INSTRUCTOR
The course will be taught by Dr. Chris Neefus. He has a PhD in Botany and is a Professor of Biology at the University of New Hampshire where he teaches several courses including a full semester field and lab course on New England Mushrooms that covers mushroom ecology, taxonomy, identification, cultivation, and cooking. He is also a longtime member of the Boston Mycological Club where he has led numerous mushroom walks and has served on the club’s ID and Executive Committees.
Chris recently moved to Sandwich, New Hampshire. In his spare time, he is an avid forager and grows a variety of mushrooms including shiitakes, oysters, lion’s manes, and nameko.
SCHEDULE
Day 1:
|
9:00am |
Arrive and Registration |
|
9:15am |
NH Regulations, Permit Overview, Proper Handling, Storage, Packaging, Safety Regulations, Ethics and Protecting Forests, Picking for Resale, Deadly and Poisonous Species Toxins and Treatments |
|
10:30am |
Break |
|
10:45pm |
Gallery of Extended Tier 1 Species and Lookalikes. Dissections and Specimen Discussions, Fresh and Dried |
|
12:30pm |
Lunch (provided). Discussion: participant suggestions for changes to the Tier 1 approved list. |
|
1:00pm |
Exam |
APPROVED SPECIES LIST - TIER 1
According to state regulations, wild foraged mushrooms species must be individually inspected and found to be safe by a licensed mushroom identification expert that:
(A) Has met the education requirement and passed an exam and
(B) Will harvest only those mushrooms species listed below:
- Morels (Morchella americana, M. angusticeps, M. puntipes)
• Chanterelles (Cantharellus cinnabarinus, C. cibarius group, C. flavus, C. lateritius,
C. minor)
• Black trumpet (Craterellus fallax)
• Lion's Mane / Pom Pom / Bear's Head (Hericium erinaceus, H. Americanum, H.
coralloides)
• Oyster mushroom (Pleurotus ostreatus, P. populinus, P. pulmonarius)
• King bolete / Porcini / Cep / Steinpilz (Boletus edulis, B. atkinsonii, B.
chippewaensis, B. nobilis, B. separans, B. subcaerulescens, B. variipes)
• Matsutake (Tricholoma magnivelare)
• Maitake / Hen-of-the-woods (Grifola frondosa)
• Wine Cap / King stropharia / Garden Giant (Stropharia rugosoannulata)
• Cauliflower (Sparassis americana, S. spathulata)
• Lobster (Hypomyces lactifluorum)
• Green Quilted Russula (Russula parvovirescens, R. crustosa)
• Jelly Ear / Wood Ear (Auricularia americana)
• Blewit (Lepista nuda)
• Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus)
• Trumpet Chanterelles (Craterellus ignicolor, C. tubaeformis, C.
caeruleofuscus, C. faetidus)
• Beefsteak Polypore (Fistulina hepatica)
• Sweet Tooth / Hedgehog (Hydnum subgenus Hydnum)
• Depressed Hedgehog (Hydnum subgenus Rufescentia)
• White Hedgehog (Hydnum subgenus Alba)
• Corregated Milky (Lactifluus corrugis)
• Orange Milky (Lactifluus hygrophoroides)
• Tawny or Voluminous Milky (Lactifluus volemus)
Upon successful completion of this course, the permit holder must submit a Wild Harvested Mushroom application with the State of New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services to be able to offer mushrooms to consumers or retail food establishments. You will be able to sell only those species on the Tier 1 list.
For Wild Harvested Mushroom Harvester Application, please click here.