While EU markets hunger for mushrooms - BH loses millions over healthy foods

Details
Source eKapija, 03. 09. 2010.
More info on related companies
	Bašo d.o.o. Velika Kladuša.
search for other documents with keywords
	Mushroom consumption
	gather mushrooms
	mushroom deficit
	Cep
	Ceasar Mushroom
	Red Pine Mushroom
	Peppery Milk Cap
	mushroom habitat
	healthy food
	Firm "Baso"
	Velika Kladusa
	wild mushrooms
	Yellowfoot chanterelle (cantharelus cibarius) and Black Trumpet (craterellus cornucopioides)
	EU markets
	consumption law
	mushroom hunters

	Comment article
	Email article
	Print article
	Mark article

September 6, 2010 - Mushroom consumption per capita in BiH is extremely small, even though our country is rich in various kinds of fungi. Every year in Bosnia several hundred tons of this "God’s gift" goes to waist because nobody feels like to gather mushrooms, while the mushroom deficit in EU markets is enormous.

BH mountains, meadows and forests hide many types of mushrooms - Cep, Ceasar Mushroom, Red Pine Mushroom, Peppery Milk-Cap.

However, the situation at hand is completely different. Nobody seems to be interested in this market, or those who are, deliberately destroy natural mushroom habitat in an attempt to get more money.

According to some estimates of BH experts, the country exports mushrooms and healing herbs in the amount of 10 million EUR, while it is well capable for exports of 300 million. Also, mushrooms are a lot easier to get certified as a "healthy food" than any other food item.

Firm "Baso" from Velika Kladusa is the leader in collecting wild mushrooms, the healthy environmentally-friendly types especially Cep (Boletus edulis), Yellowfoot chanterelle (cantharelus cibarius) and Black Trumpet (craterellus cornucopioides).

“Our company buys off wild mushrooms that people gather over in forests, and process them according to demands of our clients. The mushrooms we offer are fresh, frozen and dried,” says Nermin Basic company’s owner, adding that 95 percent of the mushrooms are sold to EU markets, with the price changing according to the consumption law.

It is a lucrative business, he says, for mushroom hunters as for the companies that sell and process mushrooms.

“Foreign markets need much more mushrooms than our company can export,” concludes Baso.

E. Ko.