With spring approaching, the main season for Swiss endive is now coming to an end. "In contrast to the 23/24 season, when root yields were very low, and we had to cancel practically all promotions, last fall saw average yields. Despite the predominantly smaller root sizes and correspondingly lower shoot weights, we have been able to work with normal quantities so far. The only disadvantage was that we had to resort to new roots in the organic sector as early as November because the old stocks had been used up, although in retrospect we should have waited a few weeks," summarizes Fabian Etter, managing director of Gamper Gemüsekulturen AG.
Gamper is considered the country's leading endive producer and marketer, supplying conventional and organic products to the food retailing industry throughout Switzerland. Etter: "We ran a number of lively advertising campaigns with our conventional endive, which led to good sales, especially in January. In February, sales are traditionally somewhat lower due to the ski holidays throughout Switzerland. Despite the spring-like weather in recent weeks, sales have also started particularly well in March." The product specialist goes on to explain that the last promotions in retail were in calendar week 9, and that the target prices are now at the same level as last year.
© Gamper & Co. Gemüsekulturen
At the marketing level, the management of the specialized company sees no significant effects of the continuing inflation. However, this is different for the forcing operations, Etter confirms. "Energy prices have stabilized somewhat in the past year, but are still three to four times higher than before the energy crisis. This naturally has a significant impact in the end."
In Switzerland, too, endive has established itself primarily as a winter product. During summer, about half of the winter quantities are sold.
Promotion of regional endive production
Endive is still considered a niche product in Switzerland, but organic consumption in particular is steadily increasing. To meet this growing demand in the future, Gamper AG and its partners in the PRE Terrafood funding project will build a new refrigerated storage facility for organic chicory roots and a forcing plant. According to Etter, the new storage capacities are to be put into operation as early as the fall. "Our main objective is to inspire new producers to grow chicory roots. Organic products still account for around one-fifth of total sales, but we want to increase this share over the next six years. In general, endive has good growing conditions in Switzerland. However, the approval of herbicides is a cause for concern for us in conventional cultivation. We have been granted a special permit for this year, but it is still unclear how things will progress in the future."
Red endive as a year-round product
In addition to the regular white endive, Gamper AG also produces and markets its red counterpart. "We deal exclusively with conventional red endive and can now offer this item all year round. Red endive is mainly available in 300g flow packs, while white endive is still mainly available in 500g packs," he concludes.
Photo credit: Gamper & Co. Gemüsekulturen
For more information:
Fabian Etter
Gamper & Co. Gemüsekulturen
Hauptstrasse 4
9507 Stettfurt, Switzerland
Tel. +41 (0)52 376 12 57
Fax +41 (0)52 376 12 56
info@gampergemuese.ch
www.gampergemuese.ch