About six weeks 
ago, Bayerische Pilze & Waldfrüchte Uwe Niklas Ltd received the first chanterelles from the Balkans, as Lisa Niklas tells us on request. "The yield is very good. At the moment, we are obtaining fresh chanterelles from the Balkans, meaning Serbia, Bulgaria etc. Over the winter months, we get them from Morocco and the US. So we can supply our customers with fresh chanterelles all year round. On the market, we get the information that this year we can expect a reduced quantity because Ukraine and Russia are no longer source countries."
Apart from Russia, however, there are other source countries to fall back on. "At the moment, there is a very good harvest in the Balkans. There was also a good harvest in Ukraine as well as in Lithuania and Poland. At the moment, it is not possible to predict whether there will be more or less product than last year, as this depends on the weather, of course. However, we expect good volumes from the source countries mentioned."
Increased demand for frozen goods
The share of as well as the demand for frozen goods has risen sharply at Bayerische Pilze & Waldfrüchte Uwe Niklas in recent years, Niklas said. "Here, of course, it is clearly advantageous that the goods have a long shelf life and the customer can prepare them as needed. Especially regarding frozen chanterelles, there is little difference compared to fresh chanterelles when prepared. These advantages have been very well received by customers in recent years. We will process about 40 percent fresh, about 40 percent frozen and about 20 percent dried mushrooms."
The largest sales are achieved with the 1-kg and 3-kg standard assortments. However, there is also great demand for select small and mini chanterelles, he said. "The selected small chanterelles have a grading up to 30 mm head diameter and the minis even only up to 20 mm head diameter. These look especially good on the plate. Also popular with restaurateurs and in food retail are the pre-cleaned or pan-ready chanterelles. These are washed, dried and cleaned before they go to the customer. Their advantage is that they can be used immediately and the consumer saves time cleaning them."
Nice demand from food retailers and restaurants
"Currently, the demand is very good, because the quality of chanterelles is also very good. Both restaurateurs and retailers have a great demand for chanterelles. We are currently supplying mainly pre-sorted premium chanterelles in 150-g or 200-g trays to retailers." At present, he says, the product is significantly cheaper than last year because the harvest started very early this year and there are already very good volumes on the market. "We supply customers throughout Germany, but also in neighboring countries such as Austria, France and Luxembourg." In the catering trade or among bulk consumers, 1-kg and 3-kg containers are still very much in demand. Retailers currently still prefer the 150-kg and 200-kg trays, and 400-kg trays as the season progresses.
"With chanterelles, every season can be different," Niklas said. "Last year, the harvest was very moderate, but this year it's very good again. Ukraine, for example, had a very good harvest last year, and in Russia, where it was impossible to import anyway, the yield was very small because of the drought." She sees the current uncertain economic situation as a challenge for this season, especially for frozen goods. "Our mushrooms are not a staple food; we would rather count them among the luxury foods, which consumers 'indulge in' or not. That is the reason for the uncertainty for this season. However, based on current demand, we are quite positive."
For more information:
Lisa Niklas
Bayer. Pilze & Waldfrüchte Uwe Niklas GmbH
Einsiedlerweg 60
93426 Roding
Tel.: +49 9469 94040
Fax: + 49 9469 9404 13
info@pilze-niklas.de
Web: https://www.pilze-niklas.com