Current wholesale prices, best buyer types by species, and regional contacts for commercial and casual foragers.
Prices reflect current wholesale market conditions. Retail to consumers typically runs 2–3× wholesale. Quality, trim, and same-day delivery command top rates.
| Gatunki | $/lb Range | Season | Best Buyer Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morel Morchella spp. |
$40–80 | Mar–Jun Season ending |
Specialty grocery, restaurants | Dried morels $150–300/lb. Highest price per pound of any USA mushroom. Must be fresh-same-day for top rate. |
| Chanterelle Cantharellus cibarius |
$28–44 | Jun–Oct Opening now (PNW/CO) |
Restaurants, farmers markets, direct | Pacific Northwest commands the highest volume. Colorado mountains produce premium small-batch. East coast summer flush July–Aug. |
| Lion's Mane Hericium erinaceus |
$12–16 retail $6–10 wholesale |
Aug–Nov Pre-season building |
Health food stores, online direct | Wild commands 2× premium over cultivated. Health food buyers pay top dollar. Growing search demand in 2026. |
| Porcini / King Bolete Boletus edulis |
$30–60 | Jul–Oct Rocky Mtn season ahead |
Italian restaurants, specialty grocers, dried importers | Rocky Mountain porcini July–September. PNW fall flush. Dried/sliced porcini $80–120/lb. |
| Chicken of the Woods Laetiporus spp. |
$8–20 | May–Oct Active now |
Restaurants, vegetarian/vegan markets | L. sulphureus commands better rate than L. cincinnatus. Young, tender brackets only. Avoid conifer-grown (causes reactions in some). |
| Hen of the Woods / Maitake Grifola frondosa |
$14–24 | Sep–Nov Fall season |
Japanese restaurants, health stores | Wild specimens larger than cultivated. Oak base preferred. Strong Japanese restaurant market in Northeast. |
| Black Trumpet Craterellus cornucopioides |
$22–38 | Jun–Aug (East) Nov–Feb (CA) |
Fine dining, specialty grocers | Extremely fragile and labor-intensive to clean. Fine dining kitchens pay premium. Low yield per forage. |
| Matsutake / Pine Mushroom Tricholoma magnivelare |
$20–60 | Sep–Nov (OR/WA) Fall season |
Asian markets, export buyers | Oregon/Washington coast pine forests. Japanese export buyers historically pay top-of-market. Grade by button size. |
Matching the right buyer to your harvest dramatically affects what you earn. Here's where each species commands the best rate.
Best for: morels, chanterelles, porcini, black trumpet, hen of the woods. Highest per-pound rate but requires consistent quality, same-day delivery, and an established relationship.
Best for: lion's mane, chanterelles, COTW, hen of the woods. Accepts modest quantities weekly. Requires food handler cert in most states. Natural Grocers, co-ops, Whole Foods all buy wild.
Best for: chanterelles, lion's mane, oysters, COTW. Direct-to-consumer yields the highest total margin. Requires booth fee + permit. Strong in Pacific Northwest, Northeast, and mountain West cities.
Best for: dried morels, dried porcini, chanterelles. Ships overnight. Goldbelly handles fulfillment for high-value dried products. Local Harvest connects with health-conscious buyers nationwide.
Best for: matsutake, maitake, hen of the woods, black trumpet. Large Asian grocery chains (H Mart, 99 Ranch) maintain active wild mushroom buyers. Matsutake graded by button size.
Best for: high volume, mixed species. Marx Foods, Mikuni Wild Harvest, and Regalis Foods buy Pacific Northwest and Rocky Mountain wild species. Requires volume (20+ lbs per delivery) and consistent supply.
Wild mushroom markets vary dramatically by region. Here's where active buyers operate across the country.
Commercial foragers who consistently supply restaurants in season share one thing: a private GPS database of proven spots. Morels return to the same trees for 20+ years. Chanterelle mycelium persists for decades. Every GPS pin you place today is revenue you can harvest next season.
Pin Your Spots FreeGPS-pin your chanterelle patches, morel trees, and COTW brackets with the free Mushroom Tracker app. Offline-first — works in the field without cell service.