The township of Sheri, in Qassim municipality, is gearing up for the start of its fourth Truffle Festival on Thursday, the Saudi Press Agency reported. Truffles, an edible subterranean fungus, are prized delicacies worldwide. In the Gulf region, they are known as “faage” and regarded as the finest and most valuable desert fungus. Several public and private entities will participate in the festival to promote locally grown truffles and boost the region’s economy. The municipality said that the 10-day festival will feature 18 areas where truffles from more than 15 farms will be displayed and sold at auction. The festival provides a platform for Saudi businesses and entrepreneurs to show their products and services while also promoting the Kingdom’s burgeoning culinary industry. The festival will also dedicate 32 areas to families involved in cottage industries and display products such as dates, honey and other foods. Visitors can enjoy paragliding shows, a children’s theater, hospitality zones, and other attractions. The wild fungus grows up to 15 centimetres underground in the desert and typically weighs between 30 and 300 grammes. Truffles are generally spherical with a smooth surface and vary in color from white to black. They can range in size from a pistachio seed to an apple or larger. There are no fixed prices for truffles, which grow in many parts of the Kingdom after the rainy season in November and December, but prices can range from hundreds to thousands of riyals per kilogram, depending on freshness, aroma and scarcity.