I took this photograph at the famous Pike's Place Market in Seattle, Washington. My husband & I went on vacation in September this year to visit relatives and sightsee. It was amazing to see so many people there. They had some produce stands with reallly great looking vegetables and fruits.

It's amazing how prevalent shiitake have become in mainstream American society. You don't need to be Japanese or Asian to be familiar with them. I see them used more and more in restaurants.

There's even a non-Japanese/Japanese American company based in Louisiana who makes t-shirts and other items with the phrase shiitake happens on them.