Plants

Chicory is a very special product with a unique growing process.  Math explains “The process is indeed rather different than other crops since the chicory roots are not grown by the chicory growers themselves. Basically chicory is produced in two distinct steps: The rootstocks are started in the soil in a similar way as a nursery provides seedlings. Consequently we “grow out” the witlof (white leaf) in special dark cellars where the chicory roots grow without light and produce the sprouts. These are consequently sold as chicory in the stores.  The darkness basically ensures the leaves remain white”.

Growing chicory takes a lot of expertise and possible problems are just around the corner. Math: “The main problem in growing chicory is fungi which causes the plants to rot. Instead of using fungicides, we now have to pull out all the affected plants."