YELLOWKNIFE (September 25, 2015) – Following a harvesting season of about 60 days it is estimated that between 280,000 and 300,000 lbs. of morel mushrooms were harvested in the North Slave Region and the area north of Fort Providence this summer.
Harvest numbers for the rest of the South Slave and Dehcho Regions are still being assessed.
Many of the morels were sold fresh to on-site buyers for between $6 to 7 per pound, while flash-dried morels will sell in the market place for about $170 per pound. It takes about 10 lbs. of fresh morels to produce 1 lb. of dried morels. The end market value of morels harvested in the North Slave Region is estimated to be between $4 and $5 million dollars.
“Opportunities like this year’s morel mushroom harvest highlight the grassroots opportunities and diversity that that can be realized by an entrepreneur-led economy. In addition to direct benefits for NWT pickers and a local buyer, there were spin-off benefits for local businesses in our communities,” said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay.
More than 1,300 residents attended public presentations and consultations hosted by the GNWT in 16 communities of the South Slave, North Slave and Tlicho Regions of the NWT to equip residents with information and training to take advantage of the morel mushroom harvest.
From May 11 to June 30, about 2,000 harvesters took part in field workshops providing hands-on demonstrations – nearly 1,700 of these participants were northern residents. During the peak of the season, up to 500 people were harvesting morels daily.
A report and a documentary about the morel harvest will be available in March 2016. Economic growth and regional diversity to promote prosperous and self-sustaining communities is a guiding principle of the NWT Economic Opportunities Strategy.
Media inquiries:
Drew Williams Manager, Public Affairs and Communications Industry, Tourism and Investment Government of the Northwest Territories Tel: (867) 920-8696 Email: drew_williams@gov.nt.ca