Finding Morel mushrooms is often a very elusive task, but a cool spring is apparently making the delicacy a little rarer than usual.
The fungus thrives in wet and warm weather. Tom Nondorf with the Muscoda American Legion says they have had plenty of wet weather this spring, but temperatures have not yet climbed high enough to make the mushroom thrive, and it means supplies might be tight this weekend for Muscoda’s 31st annual Morel Mushroom Festival.
By the end of April, Nondorf says they have typically collected or purchased close to 1,000 pounds of Morels. This year, he says they are way below that total. He’s hoping warmer temperatures in the forecast for later this week will help improve the supply before the festival kicks off this weekend.
Muscoda bills itself as Wisconsin’s Morel Capitol.
The Muscoda American Legion pays $15 a pound, along with prizes for the most Morels turned in. The village bills itself as Wisconsin’s Morel Capitol.
Aaron Joyce, WRCO