This is not a good time for the Chioggia chicory – or for the chicory in general, in fact. Giuseppe Boscolo Palo, president of the Consorzio di Tutela, confirms that and makes an analysis of the current market situation. “The offer is remarkable as the warmer than average temperatures did not help the produce to ripen properly. These same temperatures allowed more plants to be farmed thus creating more competition for the chicory”.
According to the president, the production prices do not cover production costs. The MMR cannot absorb all the available produce thus resulting in a surplus.
Boscolo Palo adds, “The production is early. What we usually harvested right before Christmas, we are harvesting it now. We are really expecting colder temperature so that we can get rid of all that fall produce thus pushing chicory consumption”.
More than half of the total Italian chicory production is produced in Veneto. The Chioggia chicory is the first with regard to the farmed surface, production quantity and availability on the market. At the same time, there are varieties that unsuccessfully try to imitate this chicory.
The PGI Chioggia chicory grows from a local seed passed on and kept by farmer families. The regulations distinguish two different types of production: the ‘early’, harvested from the 1st April to 15th June, and the ‘late’, harvested from 1st September to 31st March.
In these last months, there were a lot of discussions regarding the reorganisation of the wholesale markets. In that regard, Boscolo Palo points out that “The Chioggia economic balance is good and private owners own the majority of the shares – 58%, and 42% to the ‘public’. The public quota is equally important. I think that the Madia law should be aware of the ‘healthy’ companies thus allowing them to keep carrying on the current management which results in revenue for the surrounding municipalities”.