Mushroom Season in Catalonia Reaches Its Midpoint with Yields of Up to 90 Kilos per Hectare, Above Average

Mar Martí / Solsona - Autumn is synonymous with mushroom-filled forests, and this season is proving no exception. At the halfway point, yields are around 90 kilos per hectare, well above the 30-year average of 60 kilos.

According to Juan Martínez de Aragón, mycologist and researcher at the Forest Science and Technology Centre of Catalonia (CTFC), the season was initially expected to be “record-breaking,” but the lack of rainfall in October and strong winds have dampened expectations. “Even so,” he said, “it’s still a good year — we still have November and December ahead.” The most common species so far are porcini, chanterelles, and yellowfoot mushrooms.

The 2025 mushroom season began “very strongly” in September, with exceptional yields. “September was fantastic,” explained Martínez de Aragón, “but later the water levels dropped, and by late September and October we had no rain, higher temperatures, and wind, which made October a poor month for mushroom production.”

Despite this downturn, the researcher considers it a “good” year overall, well above the long-term average. Current production stands at 90 kilos per hectare, possibly reaching 130–140 kilos, similar to last year’s figures.

Recent rainfall may boost yields in areas where production was “almost nil,” such as Camp de Tarragona and Bages, though in the Pyrenees production is likely to fall with the onset of frost and cold.

This has been a “record” year for porcini, chanterelles, and yellowfoot mushrooms, while saffron milk caps and pine mushrooms have also appeared in abundance — though many have been found worm-eaten due to “excess humidity, higher temperatures, and intense insect activity.”

The Regulation Debate

Catalonia remains virtually the only region in Spain without any regulation of mushroom gathering, despite having the strongest tradition. Each time there’s a good season, the debate on regulation resurfaces.

Proposals discussed in recent years include a symbolic license or forager’s card, or a day pass to enter the forest — an idea pioneered over a decade ago by a Solsonès landowner who charged 10 euros per day to collect up to three kilos of mushrooms on his 200-hectare property.

Martínez de Aragón admits it’s a “sensitive issue,” but argues that regulation is “necessary to bring order to the sector.” He stresses the importance of “giving forest owners a voice, since they are, ultimately, the owners of the mushrooms.” He believes they should unite and “pressure the authorities” to finally regulate the activity. “All surveys show positive results — people are not against paying or regulation,” he said, adding that such a system “would benefit both forest owners and the ecosystem itself.”