What will be covered in the program?

The one-day program will run from 9:00 am until 5:00 pm, with registration beginning at 8:30 am. The morning part of the program will include lectures on fungal biology, morphological characteristics of mushroom identification, as well as a review of every species of wild-foraged mushroom approved for sale in Michigan. Please see our Mushroom Study Guide page for the list of mushrooms covered. Following lunch, there will be a review of fresh and herbarium specimens, as well as interaction with mycologists to address questions participants may have. There will be a one hour break for lunch (included with the program), after which participants will have an optional hour to review their notes, ask any final questions, and study. Once individual participants feel they are prepared, they will be administered a test in order to determine their eligibility for being issued a Mushroom Identifier Card by the State.

The Test

Participants are required by law to be an “expert” in the wild-foraged mushrooms they identify and sell. Misidentification of poisonous mushrooms for safely edible mushrooms is a grave concern of public health and safety. To meet this standard, the test will be stringent and thorough. It should be made clear that an Expert Mushroom Identifier Card will not be issued unless an individual passes the test with a score of 80% or higher. It is, therefore, imperative that participants study all the material beforehand and come prepared to pass the test. The workshop should be considered a review session to confirm what has already been studied, and to clarify with mycologists any information that may not be clear after reviewing the study material. Those who are not prepared before the workshop should think twice about attending, as those who do not pass the test will neither be issued a card nor a refund. Attendees should prepare themselves appropriately before attending the seminar.

Purchase tickets from the MAMI website.