Chicory roots, Cichorium intybus

Chicory is a perennial plant native of Europe and North Africa. It was  collected and grown since at least 4000 BC, and it was a popular food item  in ancient Egypt,  Rome and Greece. Now it is used mostly as a coffee substitute, ( a fad started by Napoleon once he blockaded British exports from the Caribs in 1806 , also the sugar  made from beets started  right there, but that's another story) and its roots are processed for inulin--a healthy starch alternative that is promoting good intestinal flora. Allegedly regular Chicory  eaters reduce  their colon cancer rates by 33%, which is a big deal if true. Fresh Chicory roots contain from 13 to 23% of inulin.
As of 2009 , 19 countries are producing Chicory root commercially, and traditionally the industry is dominated by Belgium, which is producing over  66% of the world crop. In 2008 Belgium produced 425  085 tonnes of chicory root, or about  39.26 kg  for every  resident.
In 2009, world crop was about  632 323 tonnes, that is about  91.7 grams per potential consumer.
Calorie content is  67 to 73 per 100 g so the world crop could supply  615 000 people with 2000 calories a day.There is  enough protein for 457 000 people at 50g/a day. Note that these numbers do not include leaves, flowers and endives that  you might get as by -product of Chicory root production.

17 303 hectares were used for Chicory root production in 2009, a territory the size of  Aruba.

French company Leroux S.A.S is the biggest  buyer and commercial  producer.Its a major exporter of chicory products to  over 50 countries,  95% of  US imports come  from Lerox. It was founded in 1840 and did nothing but chicory since 1871, for quite awhile.

Best crop ever (or at least since 1961) was in 2004 ( 1 018 348 t ). Worst, since 1961-- 190 070 t in 1972.

Best worldwide yields were in 2004 (38708.6 kg/ha) worst, since 1961-- 14148.9 kg/ha  in 1987.Record yield belongs to Belgium, 47458.4 kg/ha in 2008/09.

Land usage: growth of 2.09 % since 1961.

Roasted Chicory root costs about $650-800 per ton, in retail prices can be as high as $12-16 per pound.

World crop is worth about $ 500 million.


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Production by country in tonnes                 2007           2008            2009

Belgium	Chicory roots	386307		425085			M
Bosnia and Herzegovina	Chicory roots	100	F	100	F		M
Cameroon	Chicory roots	140	F	140	F	140	F
Croatia	Chicory roots	3100	F	3100	F		M
France	Chicory roots	110880		125475			M
Haiti	Chicory roots	200	F	200	F		M
Kazakhstan	Chicory roots	3000	F	3000	F		M
Philippines	Chicory roots	3700		3700	F		M
Poland	Chicory roots	34633		30402		38347
Portugal	Chicory roots	2600		2600	F		M
Puerto Rico	Chicory roots	5850	F	5850	F		M
Qatar	Chicory roots	100	F	100	F		M
Romania	Chicory roots		M		M		M
Russian Federation	Chicory roots		M		M		M
Serbia	Chicory roots	3500	F	3500	F		M
Slovakia	Chicory roots	368		25		26
South Africa	Chicory roots	16000	F	16000	F		M
Spain	Chicory roots	1600		1600	F		M
Ukraine	Chicory roots	2000	F	1700		3500
World + (Total)	Chicory roots	574078	A	622577	A	632323	A

My main sources are FAO.org, USDA.gov, CIA.gov, alibaba.com and many others.

Ginger, Jengibre, Zingiber officinale

root of ginger, Zingiber officinale

Ginger is a South Asia's native, where it was  grown for at least 3000 years. First known name of Ginger is singabera , which  means "root with horns" in Sanskrit. Traders were bringing this root to European markets for at least 2000 years.
Now, Ginger is grown  in 32 countries commercially. The biggest producer (and also consumer ) of ginger is India with 380 100 t harvested in 2009.  The biggest producer per capita is Nepal, in 2008 they produced 176 602 t, which is about 6.2 kg of Ginger per each Nepalese. Nepal uses about 0.5% of  all arable land  for ginger production.
Worldwide, there were  about  237.7 grams of ginger available to every human in 2009, which is quite a bit considering how little of it  you need to spice things up. In a properly dried  form, it would be about 40 grams.
1 618 627 tons of ginger were produced in 2009.

427 423 hectares were used  for ginger production in 2009, more than ever in human history. It would be  a  territory bigger than Cape Verde and  Aruba combined.


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Jamaica was producing some  of the finest Ginger in the world not that long ago, but rhizome root disease put an end to it. In November of 2010  3-year , $12 million + project was launched to do something about it, out of which $5.8 million were provided by Jamaican government.
No meaningful  results were achieved so far.

Yields in ginger farming are really interesting. I do not know any other plant yields of which differ so much.
In Pakistan, for example , you get less than 500 kg of ginger per hectare. In Nigeria--710kg, and in USA-- 34000 kg per hectare. 3786.9 kg/ha was an average yield in 2009.
Best yield ever was 56174.3 kg/ha in USA (2000).   Best yield of ginger worldwide  was in 2008, 3810.3 kg/ha. Worst (since 1961) 1921.8 kg/ha in 1961.
Best crop  ever worldwide was in 2009 (see above), worst, since 1961-- 60 360 tonnes in 1961.

flower of ginger

Prices, retail in USA is about $4-5 per pound. By bulk, you can pay anywhere from $200 to $1800 a ton , depending on many factors. World crop is about  $1 billion worth, and  international exports are about $200-220 mln

Production by country,   2006             2007             2008               2009
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Bangladesh	Ginger	57000		63325		77046			M
Bhutan	Ginger	7571		9870		9870	F		M
Cameroon	Ginger	11336		11000		11000	F	11000	F
China	Ginger	319824		327373		328810	F	331810	F
Costa Rica	Ginger	4229		1044		955		1105
Côte d'Ivoire	Ginger	5040		8200		8200	F		M
Dominica	Ginger	120		120		120	F		M
Dominican Republic	Ginger	1500		1700	F	551			M
Ethiopia	Ginger	8000		9000		9000	F		M
Fiji	Ginger	3209		3111		2448		2787
Ghana	Ginger	70		70	F	70	F		M
Grenada	Ginger		M		M		M		M
Guyana	Ginger	520	F	520		520	F		M
India	Ginger	391200		393400		382600		380100
Indonesia	Ginger	177138		178502		192341	F		M
Jamaica	Ginger	259		241		298			M
Japan	Ginger	38100		42700		49800		52000	F
Kenya	Ginger	150		150	F	150	F		M
Madagascar	Ginger	30		30	F	30	F		M
Malaysia	Ginger	9966		10150		10340		11200
Mauritius	Ginger	1016		1299		709		616
Mexico	Ginger		M		M		M		M
Nepal	Ginger	154197		158905		176602			M
Nigeria	Ginger	134000		138000	F	140000	F		M
Pakistan	Ginger	31		57		95			M
Philippines	Ginger	27261		27946		27538		27415
Puerto Rico	Ginger	90		90	F	90	F		M
Republic of Korea	Ginger	4615		5750		3560			M
Réunion	Ginger	96		96	*	96	F		M
Saint Lucia	Ginger	7		9		9			M
Sri Lanka	Ginger	6760		8270		10050		10780
Thailand	Ginger	125000		153284		161505		170125
Trinidad and Tobago	Ginger	95	F	95	F	95	F		M
Uganda	Ginger	120		120	F	120	F		M
United Republic of Tanzania	Ginger	10		10	F	10	F		M
United States of America	Ginger	1950		1270		816			M
World + (Total)	Ginger	1490510	A	1555707	A	1605444	A	1618627	A

My usual sources  are : FAO.org, usda.gov, cia.gov, alibaba.com, many others

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