Jonathan Cingota has developed a pretty faithful following since 2001 when he started his mushroom-growing/foraging business, Mushrooms for Life.

Just watch them line up at his stand at the Oakland Farmers Market on Fridays and Farmers@firehouse on Penn Avenue in the Strip District on Saturday mornings. What really excites the Indiana mycologist, though, is the science of growing mushrooms.

"Selling is a way to the ends," says Mr. Cingota, who has 20 years of mushrooming under his belt. A trip to his stand is an opportunity for Pittsburghers to buy some of the best-looking (and most exotic) specialty mushrooms in the area.

Along with pom poms and maitake, he cultivates -- depending on the season -- royal trumpets, almond portobellos and a rare Blue Ridge matsutake mushroom. He also forages for wild delicacies such as morals and chanterelles.

Prices range from $4 a pound for white buttons to up to $10 a quarter pound for wild mushrooms.

It's only after people learn how good they taste and understand their nutraceutical properties that they become fans, he says. "The culinary aspects are phenomenal."

And if you're interested in learning how to forage for wild mushrooms? The Western Pennsylvania Mushroom Club is holding a day-long workshop on identifying mushrooms on Sept. 6 ($30, including lunch), and a 3-hour introduction to mushrooms course on Sept. 7 ($5).

Pre-registration is required; call John Stuart at 724-443-6878 or visit wpamushroomclub.org.