After Easter the chicory market was in a firm dip for a while, but now the market is fighting its way up again. "It was difficult in the week after Easter, but since then the sales have been going a lot better, partially thanks to various supermarket deals. The price level today is around 95 cents to 1 Euro," says Gerwin de Vries of chicory nursery LOF from Espel.
According to Gerwin the supply of the chicory is reasonably stable, but the trade is profiting from the low availability of other vegetables due to the cool weather conditions. "The French growers are dropping out more. The chicory consumption usually decreases a bit towards the summer. That's why we tend to reduce in this period. I have high hopes that we can keep hold of those prices of around the Euro. Everyone is reducing, also because there is a lack of roots everywhere."
According to the grower the quality of the chicory is fine. The red chicory production is also going well, with a slightly lower average, but thicker roots. "We have seeded in this period before, but this has been slowed down a little by the cold spring," says Gerwin. LOF nursery supplies to retailers, wholesalers, exporters and fruit and vegetable specialists. The chicory mainly finds its way to countries like Italy, Ireland and Israel through exporters. The nursery also supplies a considerable volume to the domestic market.
For more information:
Gerwin de Vries
Witlofkwekerij LOF.
Pilotenweg 28/1
8311 PL Espel
Tel. +31 (0)527 271 375
Fax. +31 (0)527 271 032
gerwin@witlofkwekerijlof.nl
www.witlofkwekerijlof.nl