20.10.2026 10:01
In the Istranca Forests, one of Turkey's important mushroom-growing areas, the mushroom population increased with this year's seasonal rainfall after last year's drought. Necati Mert, who has been a mushroom wholesaler for 26 years in the Saray district of Tekirdağ, said, "We receive 400-500 kilos a day, so this year is good. Last year we were stuck at 20-30 kilos; there weren't many mushrooms. But after the rain, it increased in terms of kilos."
The drought across the country caused by last year's extreme heat and insufficient rainfall also affected the Istranca Forests, one of Turkey's important mushroom-growing areas. In the forest where kilograms of mushrooms grow, the mushroom population decreased when no rain fell at the end of August and in September. This year, with seasonal rains arriving on time in the region, there was an abundance of mushrooms. Those who set out to collect boletes and king mushrooms, which are exported especially to European countries such as Italy, France, and Germany, collect 10-15 kilograms of mushrooms a day, contributing to their family income. First-quality mushrooms find buyers at 500 liras, and second-quality ones at 100 liras.
"IT INCREASED EVEN MORE AFTER THE RAIN" Necati Mert, who has been a mushroom wholesaler in the Saray district of Tekirdağ for 26 years, said that the number of mushrooms increased this year after the rains. Mert said, "This year, mushrooms increased a bit more after the rains. It is a bountiful product; we are of considerable help to the villagers. We buy at 500 liras. We buy the second quality at 100 liras. We buy king mushrooms at 400 liras. This year they came out a bit more. Last year there weren't this many. We buy 400-500 kilograms a day, so this year is good. Last year we were stuck at 20-30 kilograms. There weren't many mushrooms. But after the rainfall, it increased even more in terms of kilograms," he said.
"IT GOES TO EUROPEAN COUNTRIES" Mert, noting that the mushrooms are exported to European countries, said, "Italians, French, Spanish, and European countries generally buy these. Bulgarians also come, but they too export to that side like us. They generally prefer this black-headed mushroom very much. King mushrooms will also go to restaurants in the domestic market. They generally use the second qualities in soup. They cut them into cubes and freeze them," he said.
Mert stated that many people from Tekirdağ and its surroundings come to the region to collect mushrooms, and said, "There are quite a lot of collectors this year. In fact, since it currently grows only in our region, in the Istranca Forests, there are people from nearby villages as well as from outside. People come from Saray, Kırklareli, Edirne, from everywhere. Since it is a valuable mushroom, it also brings in money right now anyway. So we contribute to people. A person can collect roughly 5-10 kilograms of first-quality mushrooms. Before the rain there were fewer. But after the rain it increased. Now there are those who bring 10-15 kilograms. It is a serious income, a very good income. We buy at 500 liras. People earn good money," he said.
"WE COME EVERY DAY AND COLLECT MUSHROOMS" Hanife Gündoğdu, who comes to the Istranca Forests every year to collect mushrooms, said that mushrooms are abundant in the region this year compared to last year. Gündoğdu said, "This year there were some mushrooms after the rain. We come to the forests every day both for income and for our hobby, and we collect mushrooms. There are a bit more mushrooms compared to last year. It is not too excessive, but of course there are mushrooms this year compared to last year. Prices were good at first, but they have dropped a bit now. That is because of the rain. It happened because the mushrooms absorbed water," she said.