Italian truffles are enjoying an increase in popularity abroad with exports up 35% in the first eight months of 2008, the Coldiretti farmers' union said Thursday.
The union added that the Italian truffle industry will be worth an estimated half a billion euros in 2008.
On Saturday a giant 1.080 kg white truffle from the Molise region fetched 200,000 dollars at an international charity auction, snapped up by Chinese business magnate Stanley Ho.
In 2007 Ho set the world record price for a single truffle, forking out 330,000 dollars for a Tuscan truffle weighing 1.5 kg - one of the largest truffles found in the last 50 years.
Nestling in the roots of about 50 trees - mostly oaks but also hazels, poplars, mulberries and willows - truffles are rooted out by specially trained dogs.
With demand shooting up over recent years, hunters have become increasingly competitive and there have even been reports of skulduggery such as hamstringing or even poisoning the champion dogs of rivals.
