Wild mushroom season in central Mexico

The rainy season in central Mexico has led to an increase in the availability and commercial demand for wild mushrooms. In the State of Mexico, markets such as Toluca’s Mercado Juárez report peak sales for species like ‘setas’ and ‘pajaritos’ during August and September. To manage the season, often called ‘Hongosto’, the Secretariat of the Environment (Sedema) has organized observation tours in areas like Ejido Magdalena Petlacalco to educate the public on identifying the approximately 80 local species and to prevent accidental consumption of toxic or hallucinogenic varieties.

Beyond commercial demand, the season highlights Mexico’s status as having the second-highest global diversity of wild mushrooms. In states including Oaxaca, Michoacán, and Estado de México, mushroom collection remains a vital part of local gastronomy and cultural heritage. To celebrate this biodiversity, the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEMéx) scheduled a series of exhibitions in Toluca for late August, featuring the XXXVI Mushroom Exhibition and the III Ethnobiology Exhibition. These events include workshops, conferences, and scientific illustrations intended to explore the connection between human culture and nature.