False earthstar sellers get high price this year

The false earthstar, commonly known as the hygroscopic earthstar, and the barometer earthstar sellers are earning high prices this year compared to last year.
The natural false earthstar from Pinlebu, Wuntho and Kawlin towns from the Sagaing region started entering the Kawlin town market.
The false earthstar is grown annually in mushroom nests. This season sees the wholesale traders and retail sellers earning good extra income from selling false earthstars.
The wholesale traders sell the earthstars by baskets, while the retail sellers sell them by milk cans.
Last year, the seekers of the false earthstar found two or three baskets per day in the forest, and they are selling them for K3,500 or K4,000 per basket. Now, the false earthstars are not growing well like last year. So, the three seekers found only three baskets one morning. They are selling them for K900 per one can and K7,000 per basket. The seekers are selling them in the Kawlin market.
The false earthstar (natural mushroom) is becoming a more popular fruit. Thus, some wholesale traders are selling them in Shwebo, Monywa and Mandalay brokerages, said Ma Hnin Wai Phyo, a false earthstar seeker from Shansu village.
The false earthstars entering the Kawlin market are bought and eaten as a seasonal crop.
They are also cooked and eaten by mixing with watercress and pork, it is learnt. — Myint Tun Min (Kawlin)/GNLM