Many of us have sold wild mushrooms to restaurants, to stores and at farmer’s markets. Now we must rethink this practice.

Currently, selling wild mushrooms picked from the wild is illegal in most places unless certain rules are followed.  The FDA Food Code now requires food to be able to be tracked to its place where it was collected.

Is it legal to gather wild mushrooms in PA State Parks ? Check out the PA Conservation and Natural Resources report, paragraph 11.211 (b) (1).

It clearly states that it IS LEGAL. You may want to print it out and carry it with you when you when you go collecting.

I recently received this clarification of the law from Rory Bower, Reeds Gap State Park manager:

I would ask that you please update the information based upon the following sections of state park regulations: Section 11.211(a)(1) This prohibits the “Cutting, picking, digging, damaging or removing, in whole or in part, a living or dead tree, shrub or plant”. Section11.211(b)(1) states “Gathering edible fruits, nuts, berries and fungi, in reasonable amounts, for one's own personal or family consumption. This permission does not apply to wild plants listed in Chapter 45 (relating to conservation of Pennsylvania native wild plants) as threatened, endangered, rare or vulnerable.”

As you can see, it is permissible to gather only edible fungi in reasonable amounts for one’s own personal or family consumption. Legally, it is not permissible to gather mushrooms for any other purpose.