Mushroom picking in France has grown into a profitable activity, with certain types of mushrooms, like boletus, fetching up to 25 euros per kilogram. As the mushroom season begins, markets and restaurant menus feature both locally picked and imported mushrooms. For some, mushroom picking has turned into a profession. Benjamin Py, for example, owns two hectares of forest near the Pyrenees and sells mushrooms to local restaurants. He focuses on freshly picked mushrooms, selling around 15 kilograms since August for a few hundred euros. This serves as a supplementary income, and he now formally declares his activity by issuing invoices. This is a selling point, as chefs are required to ensure traceability, meaning they must have proper documentation when purchasing mushrooms. The rules surrounding mushroom collection are strict. Collectors can buy mushrooms from individuals, but only if they were picked according to the law. If a person owns the land, they can sell what grows there. If not, they must have a permit from the landowner. However, verifying these permits is difficult, which can lead to illegal practices. Michel Bidaubayle, president of an association representing about 100 forest owners in the village of Caixon, notes that the growing interest in mushrooms has led to some abuses. In 2015, the area saw an overwhelming number of mushroom pickers, causing traffic jams and disorder. To address this, the association has installed signs, hired guards for enforcement, and acts as a civil party in legal cases. In some areas, illegal mushroom picking has become a large-scale operation. Organized groups from countries like Romania, Albania, and Italy have been spotted in regions such as the Landes and the Jura. These groups often stay in the forest for days, sorting and packing mushrooms in crates placed in remote and hard-to-reach areas. Once the crates are full, the mushrooms are quickly transported to markets, particularly in Milan, Italy. To combat these illegal activities, the National Forestry Office works with gendarmes and customs officials to dismantle these networks. They set up roadblocks when there are spikes in mushroom traffic. The consequences for illegal mushroom picking can be severe. Those caught engaging in excessive mushroom collection for commercial purposes may face up to three years in prison and fines of up to 150,000 euros. Despite these penalties, the demand for high-quality mushrooms continues to drive both legal and illegal activities in France's forests.