Vendors need certification to legally sell morel mushrooms

AMES ? Mushroom hunters who would like to legally sell morel mushrooms in Iowa need to complete a morel mushroom certification workshop.

Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is offering the workshop at several Iowa locations in March and April.

?The aim of the workshop is to help assure that misidentified mushrooms are not sold as morels,? said plant pathology professor Mark Gleason.

Certification lasts for three years, so those who certified in 2010, when the Iowa law requiring certification first took effect, will need to recertify this year.

The workshops are planned:

? 1-4 p.m. March 23 in Altoona;

? 1-4 p.m. April 4 in Bettendorf; and

? 1-4 p.m. April 6 in Dubuque.

Preregistration is necessary by emailing Gleason at mgleason@iastate.edu or calling 515-294-0579 by March 25.

The fee is $50, payable by check or cash, at the training workshop.