Tholen – The ground chicory season is in full swing at Lathouwers and Co. up again. The product that used to be popular in many chicory-producing countries now seems to be mainly reserved for Belgium. However, the regional product has also run into trouble in Belgium due to a lack of follow-up, but Herman Lion of the trading company from Wolvertem in Flanders is hopeful and speaks of a good, stable season. “It may be one of the last pure crafts in this sector, but fortunately prices have remained stable, so there was little reason to complain this year. It gives the growers a boost.”
However, it is now over for ground chicory for this year. “We continue with the hydro chicory all year round, but it is ready again for the ground chicory,” Herman explains. “You still see some supply at the auctions, but we work with a permanent group of growers and they have stopped, so we are also stopping. In general, we can speak of an excellent season that went as expected.”
“We have had few problems with supply and deliveries. We have been able to fulfill all contracts, so you can only be satisfied. Of course, the growers have experienced some problems with the climatic challenges, but all in all we have come out of it. prices were also fairly stable throughout the year. There were actually no moments when there were extremes. Of course, there are always peaks and valleys in demand around the holidays or when it is very hot or cold. These are natural movements the market. Like this weekend you see that it becomes 22 degrees and then the demand for, in this case hydroponics, goes down.
Succession
It also ensures satisfaction among growers, says Herman. “A grower always prefers a stable season than with exceptional peaks. Then he knows where he stands.” The fact that the year is positive gives the trader hope, because follow-up is still not easy for soil chicory growers. “It’s a bit of a problem that has been going on for years. Many growers have no follow-up or their children choose other professions, because it is still really intensive work. It is a beautiful craft, but you also have to have a passion for it. to be carried out.”
“It sometimes makes it difficult to find new young entrepreneurs who want to get involved,” he continues. “We do see that initiatives are being launched to achieve this. For example, over the past two years there have been workshops to get young growers enthusiastic about cultivation and to teach them the craft. There has also been interest in this, so hopefully it will be a step in the right direction so that chicory cultivation here never disappears. That would be an eternal shame for such a Belgian classic.”
Hydro chicory
For Lathouwers and Co. the focus is now back on the summer season with its chicory from hydroponics. “We do this all year round and even though demand traditionally drops somewhat in the summer, there are still sales. At the moment, prices have risen again. There seems to be little supply due to the problems with the weather. the autumn and the fire in a Dutch warehouse (ed. De Groene Agri) where many carrots were stored. It is currently causing high prices, which seemed to have normalized again after a very expensive winter period, but have now risen again. We will see how the coming period goes. Chicory raw in a salad is also being eaten more and more, so there is enough supply and demand to get through the summer in a good way,” Herman concludes.
For more information:
Herman Lion
Lathouwers and Co
Veilinglaan 39
1861 Wolvertem (Meise), Belgium
+32 (0)52 39 79 00
[email protected]
www.lathouwers.net
