Chicory market finally looking up

The chicory market is finally starting to look up after a few difficult months. "It has been very bad for a long time. In the summer some growers stopped and the yield has declined, this combination has created a favourable price trend," says Kristha Heibrink, a saleswomen for Kwekerij LOF (LOF nursery). Kwekerij LOF (LOF nursery) supplies to retailers, wholesalers, exporters and AGF (fruit and vegetable) specialists. "We do not have much of a problem with the international supply of chicory. The French chicory market is also dwindling."

"Unfortunately the price fell to around 70/80 cents this morning, but at the beginning of the week the market price for one kilo of chicory was around one Euro, and that is different from what is has been in recent months. We even heard that chicory was being sold for a dime at some points this year," follows Kristha. "We do not sell the product under a certain price. We want to deliver quality and our customers pay, and you cannot run a business for a dime per kilo. I don't know if this low price concerns old products, but here our product is guaranteed fresh."

Now that R is back in this month, the traditional demand for chicory is back up. "We expect better months ahead. Mid-October we will switch again to the new pens," says Kristha. In contrast with the revival of the chicory market, radicchio sales are mediocre. "Before the summer radicchio prices were still doing well. But if too much comes onto the market it can be fatal and the prices will decline. It is unfortunate that radicchio is not sold in supermarkets. During open days we have observed that there actually is a substantial amount of demand for this exclusive product. The price of radicchio increased this morning due to a greatly reduced supply of the product."

For more information:
Witlofkwekerij LOF
Pilotenweg 28/1
8311 PL Espel
Tel. +31 (0)527 271 616
Fax. +31 (0)527 271 032
info@witlofkwekerijlof.nl
www.witlofkwekerijlof.nl