The French chicory growers in North Pas-de-Calais are in dire straits. In the middle of winter, whilst consumption of this winter vegetable should be at its highest, the consumers haven't reached that level. In addition the chicory price is dangerously low.
Daniel Bocquillon, chairman of the chicory association in France is clear: "We are at the edge of the abyss." The purchase price of one kilo of chicory has decreased a lot. This week the price reached an almost historical low point at 35 Euro cents/kg. In some cases the grower received 55 Euro cents/kg. This is far too low for growing chicory, for labour one should keep 30 cents/kg and for packing 12 cents. Both expenses together is already 42 cents/kg. At that price there is nothing left for some growers. In some cases a grower has a margin of 20 cents.
According to Bocquillon competition with Belgium and the Netherlands is very severe. In these countries the purchase price is about 25 cents/kg, which does not influence the profitability. That is because they employ people from Eastern Europe, as a result of which expenses are half of those in France.
The result is that the French market is swamped with Belgian and Dutch chicory, which is cheaper than the French product. The North French growers cannot make the production profitable. Figures are obvious. In 2002 there were almost 1000 chicory growers. To-day only 350 are left in North Pas-De-Calais, Picardy and Brittany.