Black Truffles Come to Virginia?

Posted by ppeery on September 4th, 2008

A recent article in the Daily Progress highlighted the efforts underway to add black truffles to Virginia‘s agricultural offerings.  Pat and John Martin of Rixeyville, VA started Virginia Truffle Growers and Virginia Truffle Sale and Marketing, companies focused on producing and selling black truffles and sharing their knowledge with other interested growers. 

This focus on exploring potentially high value, non-tradition agricultural ventures is very consistent the Bundoran Farm’s and the Baldwin Center for Preservation Development’s goals of supporting best management practices and innovative agricultural initiatives.  The truffles will be a great compliment to our shitake mushrooms.

The Virginia Truffle Growers will be holding a special  field day on October 10, 2008.  Registration is necessary.  To register, call (540) 937-9881 or send an e-mail to maggie@virginiatrufflegrowers.com.  To learn more, visit www.virginiatrufflegrowers.com.

To access the full Daily Progress article, visit www.dailyprogress.com/cdp/news/local/article/growing_for_the_gourmet_truffle_business_a_worldly_effort/27076/

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Filed under: Agriculture, Education and Inspiration, General

6 Responses to “Black Truffles Come to Virginia?”

  1. Ellen Commerce, on October 19th, 2008 at 2:59 pm Said:

    I think (am pretty sure) I have found truffles in my yard. They looked like nasty things with slug slime on them, appearing as creepy barnacles protruding slightly from the earth, and my daughter in law kicked a few. After googling to find out what on earth they could be, we were excited to learn that they might be truffles. They grow under my very old oak tree, and near a hickory nut and ash tree, as well.

    I do not want to eat them until I find out what they are, but they are brownish, like funky potatoes (they do have a sweet, earthy, haunting scent), and when I sliced one, it had a white outer rim and a very dark (greyish, dark-purplish) center, and definitely seem to be mushroom-like with a dense texture.

    Can you tell me if they are truffles? How should I go about identifying them?

    Thank you so much for your assistance!

  2. cherisse, on October 19th, 2008 at 6:14 pm Said:

    I hve found the same thing in my yard as well they look like potatoes and the have a white outer layer and when broken open they have a smooth inside velvet layer. what is this? Can you help?

  3. Joe Barnes, on October 26th, 2008 at 4:27 pm Said:

    I would recommend you directly contact the folks at http://www.virginiatrufflesgrowers.com. At Bundoran Farm, we have found that one smartest things you can do is “When in doubt, seek the advice of an expert”.

  4. Cathy Allen, on September 4th, 2010 at 1:57 pm Said:

    Found similar specimen in our yard at the bases of oak/pecan trees. How can we get them identified?

  5. Pat Martin, on October 18th, 2010 at 2:17 pm Said:

    Virginia Truffle Growers and Virginia Truffles, formerally, Virginia Truffle Sales & Marketing have a new web address; http://www.virginiatruffle.com … same location and phone number. Pat & John Martin are now the sole owners of both ventures. We’d be happy to discuss ‘truffle’ people are finding (and all things truffle). Generally, in our region what is found is ‘scleradema’. It is not edible. We are happy to receive good photos via email and work with folks to correctly identify their findings.

  6. Joe Barnes, on October 25th, 2010 at 10:55 am Said:

    Pat:

    Thanks for posting your new address. Would you have any interest in holding a truffle seminar at the Baldwin Center at Bundoran Farm some day?

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