Costa Rica News – Rex García has become known as the tico that “hunts” mushrooms in the Canadian forests. His extreme and wild adventures are not at all easy but are very satisfying.
He first went to Canada after he jokingly asked a Canadian couple visiting Costa Rica if they would give him a job and they said yes. He has now made a life and family there.
He goes after the most expensive varieties of mushrooms. He expects a very good harvest next year because one type of mushroom he searches for is found after forest fires. This year, British Columbia had 1.2 million hectares burned in forest fires.
He camps out for days at a time and carries heavy boxes loaded with mushrooms through treacherous land. This survivor style job is behind the dishes served at gourmet restaurants. The mushrooms can earn $60 per kilo.
He also searches for the Matsutake mushroom which brings in $150 per kilo. It’s the most expensive in the world. While working at a gas station, he became friends with the local indigenous and they taught him a secret for finding them.
The national film The 70 mile zoo was made about García. He plays himself. We can see it in 2019. He also made a Youtube channel Ese Hongo which has over 250,000 views.