Pleurotus ostreatus AKA: Oyster Mushrooms

We love hunting oyster mushrooms in PA.

Oysters are among the most delicious and recognizable wild mushrooms—and they can be found across much of the state.

While Pennsylvania’s forests are home to thousands of mushroom species, the broader region contains more than 200,000 known types of fungi. Of those, roughly 200 are edible, and about 25 are commonly considered safe and “worth eating” or sold commercially.

Because misidentified mushrooms can cause serious illness or even death, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture (PDA) requires that anyone harvesting wild mushrooms for retail or wholesale sale first be approved by the Bureau of Food Safety & Laboratory Services. Approval ensures that harvesters have proper training and expertise to accurately identify edible species.

Personal foraging for home use is generally allowed, but commercial sales without certification are strictly regulated.