05.11.2025 16:05
In the Feke district of Adana, forest villagers have started going to the woods with the morning call to prayer for the "Cedar (Tar) mushroom," which can reach up to 1,000 lira per kilogram. Due to last year's drought, the cedar mushroom was scarce, but this year, thanks to recent rainfall, it is making a comeback, and it has been reported that it is being exported to Japan.
In the Mansurlu and Konakkıran regions of the Feke district, the cedar mushroom, which grows naturally at the roots of cedar trees, has become a favorite in Japan and South Korea, with prices ranging from 500 TL to 1,000 TL per kilogram depending on its size and quality.
LOCAL RESIDENTS CALL IT WHITE GOLD
The cedar mushroom, referred to as "white gold" by the local residents, has started to emerge this year with the rains. The first collection event of the year in the Mansurlu neighborhood was attended by Feke Mayor Cömert Özen, Kozan Mayor Mustafa Atlı, Kozan District Governor Bahattin Alp Arslanköylü, Kozan Chamber of Commerce President Mustafa Kandemir, Kayseri Yahyalı Mayor Esat Öztürk, village heads, council members, and local residents. The mayors searched for mushrooms in the forest with sticks in hand alongside the locals. The mushrooms found were served by the locals in a festive atmosphere, with dishes like 'katran böreği' and 'mushroom kebab' being prepared. In the region, where approximately 200 kilograms of mushrooms are collected daily, villagers expressed their hope for a bountiful year.
"WE EXPORT TO JAPAN"
Osman Ayaş, who purchases mushrooms in the Mansurlu region and stated that they have formed a cooperative in the area, said that the product is of great importance for the local economy. Ayaş noted, "We can say this is a mushroom product without seeds. It grows at an altitude of 1,500 to 2,000 meters. We export to Japan. There was none last year, and this year we are also supplying the domestic market. It has emerged with the rains. In previous years, 2-3 tons were collected daily, but this year it is around 200-300 kilograms. The price starts at 500 TL and can go up to 1,000 TL. There is demand from all over Turkey. It is a mushroom with a high antibiotic content and dense calories. In previous years, an invoice of 4 million TL was issued just for this product," he said.
"ITS VALUE WAS NOT KNOWN, NOW IT HAS BECOME AN EXPORT PRODUCT"
Feke Mayor Cömert Özen mentioned that the cedar mushroom has become a brand for the region, stating, "It has a journey that extends from the Taurus Mountains to Japan. Its value was not known before, but now it has become an export product. We want to introduce our mushroom to the whole world," he said.
Kozan Mayor Mustafa Atlı also noted that there are nearly 100 varieties of mushrooms in the region, emphasizing that the cedar mushroom is an important value both economically and ecologically.
"WOMEN IN THE FOREST AT DAWN"
85-year-old Sanem Gündoğdu shared that she goes to the forest at dawn and collects mushrooms until noon, saying, "I collect from the mountain, I sell them, and it contributes to my household." Raziye Gündoğdu also expressed that she supports her household economy with the income she earns by searching for mushrooms in the shade of cedar trees.
Vahit Todil, the AK Party Feke District President, who is also a pioneer in opening the mushroom to foreign markets, pointed out that 35 tons of cedar mushrooms are exported during periods of abundant rainfall. Todil stated, "An annual income of 15 million TL is provided to the district. Fresh mushrooms are sent to Japan, and frozen ones to China and South Korea. Currently, purchases are being made at 500-600 TL, and if the rains continue, expectations are high for this year as well," he said.