## 4 Conclusions  
This study emphasizes the value of postharvest methods regarding their effectiveness in preserving food, TPC, and antioxidant qualities, enabling the choice of the most suitable technology to enable the conservation and use of wild native Patagonian mushrooms out of season. _Ramaria patagonica_ showed high antioxidant activity. The contents of total phenols and bioactivity were much better when preserved via fresh-freezing or freeze-drying methods in comparison with drying methods for both species. In this sense, the air-drying temperature did not affect the tested parameters, so other factors such as energy consumption can be taken into account when choosing the drying time. For this reason, the best option for these mushrooms would be drying at 60 \({}^{\circ}\)C. This study emphasizes the advantage of using familiar technology, with low-cost dehydration ovens, which are adaptable to rural areas for family or community use.  
Mushroom consumers and traders attach a great deal of importance to bioactive compound contents; knowledge about correct postharvest processing will be the first step in making food protocols to help inform future public-health decisions. In this sense, if the decision is to increase the bioactive/antioxidant activities of functional foods, higher investment will be needed in increasing lyophilization capability, which maintains antioxidant values and phenolic concentrations in food like fresh _F. antarctica_ and _R. patagonica_. The quick freeze-drying process that almost fully preserves the phenol and antioxidant contents, along with texture (compared with \(-20\)\({}^{\circ}\)C freezers that completely alter mushroom texture) also requires special equipment (blast chillers and individual quick-freezing (IQF) equipment) and a suitable, reliable, and more expensive logistics for distribution.  
The information generated in this study on the postharvest practices of edible wild mushrooms, through the application of different treatments aimed at extending their shelf life, significantly contributes to their commercialization. Using a suitable method facilitates and extends distribution timelines and enhances mushroom shelf life at sales locations. This study specifically addressed drying methods that are suitable for implementation in environments with limited resources and provides useful guidance to preserve these nontimber forest products after harvest and to enhance local products or family businesses in Patagonia, promoting multiple and sustainable applications of native forests.  
Conceptualization: G.C.G., M.R., M.B.P. and C.B.; methodology: G.C.G., M.R., M.B.P., C.B. and E.O., experimental work: G.C.G. and M.R., modeling and data analysis: G.C.G. and M.R.; writing--original draft preparation: G.C.G. and M.R.; writing--review and editing: G.C.G., M.R., M.B.P., T.C.F. and C.B. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.  
The authors thank the Agencia Nacional de Promocion Cientifica y Tecnologica FONCyT Argentina (grant PICT-2021-I-A-01261) and CONICET (grant PIP 11220110100388).  
Not applicable.  
The data presented in this study are available upon request from the corresponding author.  
We express our gratitude to [PERSON] for assistance with the analyses and [PERSON] for assistance with the laboratory tasks.