Joy and gruzd: Russians are buying up goods for mushroom pickers
Sales of baskets, knives, and books about mushrooms have jumped on Russian marketplaces, Izvestia found out. Mushroom season has started in most regions — warm and rainy summers promote good quiet hunting. You can also find offers from mushroom guides on online platforms who are willing to show you the best places and provide full baskets for a fee. The demand for their services jumped one and a half times in July. Where it is better to collect mushrooms in order to avoid poisoning and other unpleasant consequences is in the Izvestia article.
What do avid mushroom pickers buy?
Against the background of warm weather with heavy rains, sales of goods for mushroom pickers increased, online platforms told Izvestia. For example, in May – July, compared to the same period last year, the demand for various encyclopedias and reference books of the mushroom picker increased by one and a half times (by 54%), according to data from the Wildberries marketplace. Sales of baskets, both woven and made of other materials, increased by 12%, and special mushroom picker knives equipped with a brush — by a third.
— Sales of rubber boots and raincoats have also increased. In July alone, they were bought by 130% and 90% more, respectively, but this is also due to the rainy weather in the central regions of Russia, and only partially due to the mushroom season," the marketplace's press service added.
This summer, sales of women's raincoats at Avito increased by 28% year—on—year, men's — by 18%, rubber shoes for men - by 12%, and for women - by 7%. Shopping cart sales on the platform increased by 21%.
In addition, the demand for the services of so-called mushroom guides increased one and a half times in July, Avito Services calculated. They offer to show special places from which lovers of quiet hunting will definitely not return empty-handed.
"Just going for a walk is not for me. My task is to provide you with full baskets. More often it works. Sometimes not," says one of these ads.
Its author claims that he has at least seven years of experience in mushroom picking and wants from 8 thousand rubles for his work. The service is most popular in St. Petersburg, Karelia and the Moscow region - these regions account for about 60% of demand.
However, in June–July 2025, mushroom sales increased by 66% compared to the same period last year, according to data from the Avito Goods platform.
How to avoid mushroom poisoning
The mushroom season has already started in most regions, experts interviewed by Izvestia said. So, chanterelles, syroezhki, and buttermilk are actively harvested in the Moscow region, said mycologist Maxim Dyakov. But white and other noble mushrooms, according to him, still need to wait.
— The mushroom harvest depends on the immediate weather conditions in a particular place. They need a temperature of 18-24 degrees, a moist forest floor," he explained.
The peak season, according to him, can be expected closer to autumn. At the same time, the expert recalled that mushrooms are able to absorb harmful substances from the soil, including heavy metals and radionuclides.
— In addition, their concentration in the mushroom itself may be even higher than in the environment. Therefore, you need to collect them only in the forest where you are sure of environmental reliability. Now there are quite a lot of environmental maps that are better studied before going into the forest," Maxim Dyakov recommended.
Also, according to him, it is worth picking only those mushrooms that are familiar and beyond doubt.
Some types of mushrooms are considered conditionally edible, so they need to be thoroughly boiled with water replacement, added Olga Chistik, a therapist at the Scandinavian Health Center. Without this, the toxins remain and can cause serious intoxication. For example, this applies to pigs.
— Appearance does not guarantee safety. Poisonous mushrooms can be very similar to edible ones. Pale fly agaric is easily confused with champignon, false chanterelles with real ones. False morels resemble edible ones, but they contain deadly toxins. Such mistakes are especially common for inexperienced assemblers," she warned.
Even safe types, according to the doctor, sometimes cause a serious reaction in people with individual intolerance.
The doctor called nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea the main signs of mushroom poisoning. These symptoms usually appear within a period of half an hour to two hours after eating. But in some cases, they may appear after 6-12 hours. When the first signs appear, you should immediately consult a doctor, Olga Chistik emphasized.
— Some mushroom toxins lead to irreversible consequences. Specific antidotes and drugs for intravenous administration are needed for treatment. In severe cases, liver transplantation is possible. Self-medication and waiting can be deadly. Home-made methods, such as repeated boiling or milk, are ineffective. Activated charcoal helps only in the first hours and under the supervision of a doctor," she explained.
While waiting for the doctor, the victim needs to drink as much liquid as possible to prevent dehydration, added Zarema Omarova, co-owner of the Dr. Omarov Clinic Network.
Before the ambulance arrives, it is important to preserve the remains of mushrooms — this will help doctors identify the toxin, the doctors noted.
Mushrooms are contraindicated in many autoimmune diseases, intestinal problems and allergies, added Olga Shuppo, founder and scientific director of the Grand Clinic network of immunorehabilitation, adaptive and preventive medicine clinics. Therefore, if you have such health problems or suspect them, you should not abuse mushrooms in order to avoid an undesirable reaction of the body, the doctor emphasized.
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