K-State, KDA team to offer morel mushroom identification classes
Sessions planned in Hutchinson and Eureka
February 25, 2019
MANHATTAN, Kan. — K-State Research and Extension, in partnership with the Kansas Department of Agriculture, is offering two classes to help people earn the necessary approval to sell wild morel mushrooms. The classes will take place in South Hutchinson on March 12 and in Eureka on March 19.
The classes are intended to help ensure that wild harvested mushrooms sold as morels in the state of Kansas are safe to consume. Current regulations under KDA’s food safety and lodging program require that mushrooms picked in the wild for sale must be individually inspected for safety by an approved mushroom identifier. Upon completion of this class, participants will be recognized as approved morel identifiers in order to meet this regulation.
The class in South Hutchinson will be held on Tuesday, March 12, 2019, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Reno County Extension office, 2 W. 10th Ave. in South Hutchinson. The session in Eureka will be held on Tuesday, March 19, 2019, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Eureka Public Library, 606 N. Main St. in Eureka.
Registration for the classes is now open and is free. Pre-registration is not required but is highly encouraged. For questions or to register for the South Hutchinson class, contact the Reno County Extension Office at 620-662-2371 or ppaulsen@ksu.edu, or register online at bit.ly/MorelWorkshopReno. For questions or to register for the Eureka class, contact the Greenwood County Extension Office at 620-583-7455 or lindsayshorter@ksu.edu, or register online at bit.ly/MorelClassSignUp.
Morel identification classes were also held earlier this year in conjunction with farmers’ market workshops. For more information about morel mushroom identification opportunities, contact Londa Nwadike, KSU/MU extension food safety specialist, at 913-307-7391 or lnwadike@ksu.edu.
