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Please see the press release below for information about two upcoming wild-foraged mushroom certification courses to be held on Saturday, October 17 in Lansing and Saturday, October 24 in Mackinaw City. Also be aware that the Emmet Conservation District will be doing a Fall Mushroom course with Marilynn Smith at the University of Michigan Biological Station in Pellston, MI on Sat. Oct. 3, 2015 from 10am-noon; cost attendance is $15, and the first 20 folks that register will get field guides Mushroom Experts Offer More Certification Courses this Fall This information is being shared by MDARD as a courtesy to the course sponsors. Mushroom Experts Offer More Certification Courses this Fall Two additional wild-foraged mushroom certification courses will be offered this fall in East Lansing and Mackinaw City to train and certify foragers who commercially harvest and sell wild mushrooms in Michigan. The courses, developed and presented by Midwest American Mycology Information, the Institute for Sustainable Living, Art & Natural Design, and the Michigan Farmers Market Association, are the last classes until next fall. Those who are not yet certified who would like to collect and sell mushrooms in Michigan in the spring or summer of 2016 are encouraged to register. Michigan Food Law requires all mushrooms foraged for sale be collected by a certified wild-foraged mushroom expert. The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development recognizes those who successfully pass the one-day course as experts and provides certification that is valid for five years. The full-day training sessions focus on the biology and morphological characteristics used in the identification of mushrooms, and include hands-on work with specimens, direct interaction with mycologists, and a written exam at the end of the day. A test score of 80 percent or higher is required to receive a certification as an approved mushroom identification expert. Cost for the training, which includes lunch, is $175 per person for those who wish to be certified. This equates to a cost of about $35 per year for the five-year certification. Farmers, farmers market managers, chefs, restaurant owners, purchasing agents for grocers, and others who may have interest in attending a workshop, but not necessarily in obtaining certification, may attend for the reduced rate of $85. Registration fees go directly to the sponsoring organizations and cover the cost of the training, materials and lunch. No funds for this training go to the State of Michigan. The exam will be difficult and thorough. Participants are urged to review training materials before the course takes place. Participants should come to the class fully prepared to take the certification exam. The class should be considered a review session where you can review the curriculum with mycologists, and have any questions answered regarding material you may not find clear. Required curricula is available for review at: http://www.midwestmycology.org/Mushrooms/Mushroom%20Study.html Register at http://midwestmycology.org/Workshops/Workshops.html Registration for each session closes at midnight on the Sunday prior to the training session. Space is limited and available on a first come, first served basis. Pre-registration is required. Training dates and locations: Saturday, October 17, 2015 Molecular Plant Sciences Building, Room 1200 1066 Bogue Street (near the corner of Wilson Road and Bogue Street) Michigan State University East Lansing, MI Registration: 8:30 a.m. Course: 9 am 5 pm (includes examination time) Registration Deadline: Sunday, October 11, 2015 Saturday, October 24, 2015 Mackinaw City (Location TBD) Registration: 8:30 a.m. Course: 9 am 5 pm (includes examination time) Registration Deadline: Sunday, October 18, 2015 For more information, contact Chris Wright from Midwest American Mycological Information, at [log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]> , or visit www.midwestmycology.org If you would like to access previous postings to the Mich-Organic listserv you can copy and paste the following URL into your browser address bar http://list.msu.edu/archives/mich-organic.html