Lobster Mushroom Weekend

By mid-August, Minnesota forests are warm, humid, and capable of producing a wide mix of summer fungi. Russulas often show consistently this time of year, and when they do — along with certain Lactarius species — lobster mushrooms become possible.

Lobsters aren’t their own species. They’re Russulas or Lactarius that have been overtaken by a parasitic fungus that transforms them into dense, bright orange mushrooms. The name comes from their cooked-lobster color, not their flavor. The real skill is evaluating quality — firmness, interior condition, insect pressure — and knowing what’s worth harvesting.

While lobsters are the highlight of this weekend, they are not the only focus. Mid-August can also produce a range of other species, including chanterelles, various summer boletes, and in the right conditions, some of Minnesota’s porcini-type boletes. We’ll work with whatever is fruiting and use the diversity to build identification skills across groups.

What We Focus…