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.