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Matsutake
Harvester Economics
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Commercial
matsutake harvesting is considered by the general
public to be profitable to those who participate.
100's and, in some cases, 1000's of dollars are
rumored to be paid for daily harvests. In some
cases this may be true. However most harvesters
realize much less.
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The following statistics indicate economic
characteristics of matsutake harvesting. Two experienced
harvesters were tracked for five years. Areas of harvest
were exclusive, no competition. Buyers considered them to
be among the top harvesters. 1995 statistics
include a third harvester, with little experience. Only
95 is listed below in part. It may be considered an
average year. Daily statistics for 1992- 1997 are
available via email. |
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Length of seasons vary form 3 to 8 weeks. However the
largest portion of economic gain, occurs in a 3 to 7 day
period. The number of pounds harvested has no bearing on
economic return. #1 mushrooms, hardest to find, comprise
most of harvesters income. |
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Only top harvesters maintain a steady daily harvest,
limited by amount produced. The average harvester
receives much less.
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HARVESTER
# 1
SITE A DAYS 15
| GRADE
|
POUNDS |
VALUE
|
AVG.
VALUE PER LB |
| 1 |
65.44 |
$1196.49
|
$18.28
|
| 2 |
18.03 |
$211.38 |
$11.72
|
| 3 |
32.05 |
$193.73 |
$6.04
|
| 4 |
33.63 |
$80.41 |
$
2.39 |
| 5 |
27.45 |
$ 28.32 |
$1.03
|
| 6 |
4.23 |
$2.54 |
$
0.60 |
| TOTAL |
180.83 |
$1712.87 |
$9.47 |
HARVESTER
# 2
SITE A DAYS 16
| GRADE
|
POUNDS
|
VALUE
|
AVG.
VALUE PER LB |
| 1 |
54.54
|
$1283.63
|
$23.54
|
| 2 |
13.38
|
$226.01
|
$16.89
|
| 3 |
28.77
|
$230.44
|
$8.01
|
| 4 |
27.30
|
$68.03
|
$2.49
|
| 5 |
32.81
|
$35.38
|
$1.08
|
| 6 |
13.90
|
$7.09
|
$0.51
|
| TOTAL
|
170.70
|
$1850.58
|
$10.84
|
HARVESTER
# 3
SITE A - B DAYS 17
| GRADE
|
POUNDS |
VALUE
|
AVG. VALUE PER LB |
| 1 |
21.91 |
$382.84 |
$17.47
|
| 2 |
10.07 |
$114.80 |
$11.40
|
| 3 |
19.93 |
$113.71 |
$5.71
|
| 4 |
42.95 |
$102.25
|
$2.38
|
| 5 |
81.18 |
$84.00 |
$1.03
|
| 6 |
25.96 |
$13.24 |
$0.51
|
| TOTAL
|
202.00
|
$810.84
|
$4.01
|
DAILY
HARVESTER AVERAGES
| HARVESTER
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
| AVG.
LB. DAY |
12.06
|
10.67
|
11.88
|
| AVG.
DAY |
$114
|
$116
|
$48 |
VALUE FLUCTUATION
| GRADE
|
HI |
LO |
AVG.
|
| 1 |
50.00
|
8.00
|
23.50
|
| 2 |
45.00
|
6.00
|
17.96
|
| 3 |
25.00
|
3.00
|
8.40 |
| 4 |
8.00 |
2.00
|
3.30 |
| 5 |
2.00 |
1.00
|
1.29 |
| 6 |
1.00 |
0.25
|
0.57 |
| AVG. |
21.83
|
3.38
|
9.17 |
DAILY VALUE PER POUND 1995
| DATE |
#1$LB
|
#2$LB |
#3$LB
|
#4$LB
|
#5$LB
|
#6$LB
|
| 10/28
|
45.00 |
35.00 |
25.00
|
5.00 |
2.00 |
UNK |
| 10/30
|
40.00 |
30.00 |
20.00
|
4.00 |
UNK |
UNK |
| 10/31
|
45.00 |
25.00 |
15.00
|
4.00 |
UNK |
UNK |
| 11/2 |
50.00 |
35.00 |
15.00
|
5.00 |
2.00 |
UNK |
| 11/4 |
40.00 |
40.00 |
15.00
|
5.00 |
2.00 |
UNK |
| 11/6 |
30.00 |
30.00 |
12.00
|
5.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
| 11/7 |
20.00 |
15.00 |
10.00
|
5.00 |
2.00 |
0.25 |
| 11/10
|
8.00 |
6.00 |
3.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
| 11/12
|
12.00 |
10.00 |
4.00 |
3.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
| 11/13
|
12.00 |
12.00 |
6.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
| 11/14
|
10.00 |
10.00 |
4.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
| 11/15
|
10.00 |
10.00 |
4.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
| 11/17
|
10.00 |
10.00 |
4.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
| 11/18
|
10.00 |
10.00 |
4.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
| 11/20
|
12.00 |
10.00 |
4.00 |
2.00 |
1.00 |
0.50 |
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