Dutch chicory demand is currently unusually high. "All supermarkets are having promotions simultaneously, so sales are running like crazy," says Dennis Blankendaal of Frysk Witlof. "The local and overseas supply is sparse; prices are, thus, much higher than last year. We need some time, though, to straighten out that year, which was enormously damaging."
Frysk Witlof is one of Europe's largest chicory farms, annually forcing between 250 and 280 hectares of chicory root in the Netherlands and Belgium. Around Christmas, red chicory is added to the assortment, but at present, the entire focus is on the white variety. Dennis loves the campaign to bring this product to younger consumers. "I think it's a wonderful initiative," he says.
According to Dennis, the biggest challenge is to further automate the process. "Everyone's working on that, and that often looks good."
"But the biggest trick is to make the systems so vandal-proof that they can take a beating and still run as well in five years," says Dennis.
Frysk Witlof has completed large-scale constriction in recent years, including 12 forcing cells.
This year, the focus is on supplying and removing the product by building new docks and optimizing the refrigeration system. "We do something every year and, thus, keep innovating."
Dennis finds it hard to give a market forecast for the coming weeks. "It looks good for this and next week, but we depend on what the land provides. It's been cold everywhere, and very little product is coming from the greenhouses. That's why there are so many promotions with chicory at the moment. But that could turn around in a few weeks," he concludes.
For more information:
Dennis Blankendaal
Frysk-Witlof B.V.
12 Frjentsjerterdyk
8855 XC, Sexbierum, NL
Tel: (0) 517 592 772
Mob: (0) 683 986 424
Email: Dennis@frysk-witlof.nl
Website: www.frysk-witlof.nl