(13 Sep 2016) FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4054855
LEAD IN:
The mushroom picking season is in full swing and Latvians are flocking to the forests.
Mushrooming is one of the country's main traditions and the more competitive foragers have been showing off their skills at the sixth annual mushroom picking championships.
STORY-LINE:
The start of autumn in northern Europe is the perfect time for mushroom picking.
In Latvia it is commonly referred to as mushrooming.
Latvia's forests stretch to about 2.7 million hectares and are abundant in mushrooms.
When summer ends, there is barely a single stretch of forest untouched by foragers, with people of all ages and walks of life carrying baskets and knives into the wilderness.
It can also spark a sense of competition over who has the best haul.
That's what started the annual Mushroom Picking Championship, now in its sixth year.
The organiser, Dagnis Dubrovskis says 'mushrooming' is an ancient tradition in this region of the world.
"So, mushrooming (mushroom picking) is one of the main traditions of our nation. Not only Latvians, but also many other countries in Northern Europe have this tradition. And because the fall for most people is associated with a time when everyone goes 'mushrooming', then usually people like to also compete - who has the prettiest mushrooms, who has picked the most," he says.
Teams are given maps and two hours time to gather as many edible mushrooms as possible.
Those with worms will not be allowed in the final weigh-in.
Forty of the most competitive foragers and their families took part in the competition.
Usually the number of participants is higher, but organisers say many were scared away by a recent brown bear sighting in the same forest.
Those who were not scared away say there are many wonderful things about picking mushrooms.
"Mushrooming simply in itself is very interesting because you see new places all the time. And, of course, the joy of discovery in itself is very special. As to picking mushrooms in a championship, you just need to know where they grow, in what kind of places and just go there," says Vilis Dubrovskis, a mushroom picking enthusiast who participated with his family.
There are around 4,100 mushroom species in Latvia, according to the Baltic Wildlife organisation, but only about 20-30 of them are recognised and picked by foragers.
In this year's championships, 'Worms in the Soup' team won the gold medal, with Juris Vaidakovs taking the award for most mushrooms picked.
Vaidakovs brought in 2.62kg of mushrooms to his team.
His team-mate, Raimonds Zilite says they have practiced for many years.
"This win is because of our experience of many years. We take place in all 'mushrooming' championships. Already starting from the first one, we are also the first champions that in 2005 also won the first all-Latvia championship. And I think that shines through. For many years we haven't taken any top places, and now again we have done it," says Zilite.
"We are a super team!," added Edgars Orlovs, their other team-mate.
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
