Yichang’s morels in peak harvest, output to reach 200M yuan
2026-04-03 19:04:43
By Chen Si.
Morel mushrooms are entering peak harvest season in Yichang, with the city’s annual output value expected to reach 200 million yuan (US$29 million), local agricultural authorities said.
As temperatures rise, farmers across the region are taking advantage of favorable weather to harvest the high-value crop, which has become a key driver of rural income.
Statistics from the Yichang Academy of Agricultural Sciences show that morel cultivation has expanded to over 8,000 mu (about 533 hectares), with net income per mu exceeding 10,000 yuan.
Morel mushrooms are entering peak harvest season in Yichang, with the city’s annual output value expected to reach 200 million yuan (US$29 million), local agricultural authorities said.
As temperatures rise, farmers across the region are taking advantage of favorable weather to harvest the high-value crop, which has become a key driver of rural income.
Statistics from the Yichang Academy of Agricultural Sciences show that morel cultivation has expanded to over 8,000 mu (about 533 hectares), with net income per mu exceeding 10,000 yuan.
Morel
At a planting base in Qili Village, Yuan’an County, farmers are busy picking, sorting, and packaging plump morels grown in greenhouses. Que Wei, head of the base, said output is expected to increase by more than 40 percent from last year.
“We have over 600 mu of morels here. At the current price of about 100 yuan per kilogram, our total output value will easily exceed 10 million yuan this year,” Que said.
To boost efficiency and extend shelf life, Yuan’an County has established five centralized drying service centers, offering free services to growers. At the Junxiangyuan Cooperative, drying facilities can process up to 8 tons of fresh morels per day, supporting both the cooperative and nearby farmers, according to base manager Wang Zongbin.
Known for their distinctive flavor and nutritional value, morels are widely used in both culinary and medicinal applications, contributing to strong market demand.
Leveraging its mild climate, fertile soil, and abundant water resources, Yichang has expanded morel cultivation in recent years, shifting from small-scale trials to standardized, large-scale production.
Local agricultural departments and the Yichang Academy of Agricultural Sciences have also provided on-site training and technical support, covering cultivation, management, and processing.
Yichang’s morel products are now sold nationwide, including in Heilongjiang, Shandong, and Fujian provinces, through both online and offline channels.
Jie Xingwei, Zhu Hong, Wang Yanan also contributed to this story
