¹ University of Queensland, Gatton College, Lawes, Queensland, Australia
² Maroochy Horticultural Research Station, Nambour, Queensland, Australia
³ Institute of Horticulture and Food Research, Hamilton, New Zealand

There are two forms of persimmon derived from Diospyros kaki, astringent and non-astringent. Astringent cultivars contain high levels of soluble tannins and cannot be eaten until fully ripe and very soft, unless the astringency has been artificially removed. Non-astringent cultivars contain low levels of soluble tannins and can be eaten at various stages of firmness, from very hard to very soft.

In recent years there has been a trend towards the production and marketing of non-astringent fruit, either from non-astringent cultivars, or from astringent cultivars whose fruit have had astringency artificially removed.

Productivity of the persimmon is moderate. The fruit is attractive, sweet, and depending on cultivar and handling can have a long post-harvest storage life. It is well accepted by both traditional Asian and European consumers. However, the fruit is highly susceptible to blemishing and a range of other disorders. High levels of management are required to produce fruit of acceptable export quality.

Some countries, such as Israel and New Zealand, have developed persimmon industries based on export markets, while others, such as Italy and Japan, have industries focused mainly on domestic consumption. Based on current plantings of non-astringent varieties, world production will increase significantly in the next decade. Export industries have developed in response to off-season opportunities in traditional markets and the increasing demand for exotic fruit in non-traditional markets.

MAJOR PRODUCING COUNTRIES - NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

Japan
Persimmons are considered a national fruit in Japan, and are the fifth most widely consumed fruit. Average per capita consumption, at 1.2 kilogram, is still rising, compared with falling consumption of fruit such as mikan, apple, pear, peaches, watermelons and bananas. In 1988, 287,000 t of persimmons were produced from 26,000 ha. Non-astringent cultivars accounted for more than 40% of total production, with ‘Fuyu’ being responsible for 75% of non-astringent production. The harvest season spans mid-September to mid-December, and is extended to March by stored product.

Most fruit is sold through local wholesale markets or transported to one of 91 central wholesale markets located across 56 cities. An increase in consumer spending power has created a demand for very high quality fruit.

Prices range from as low as 185 Yen per kg during peak supply to as high as 1400 Yen for out of season fruit imported from New Zealand.

Small quantities (4,424 t in 1986) are exported to South-East Asia. Japan has imposed quarantine barriers against fruit from countries known to host fruit flies.

China
China is the world’s largest persimmon producer. Most of it’s production is consumed domestically. Production in 1988 was 567,750 t from about 150,000 ha. Less than 1% of this was from non-astringent cultivars. Harvesting extends from October to November.

Most produce is consumed domestically at prices from US$ 0.21 to US$ 0.68 per kilogram. A small quantity (less than 1,000 t) of fresh product is exported annually to destinations such as Hong Kong and Macao. Exports of dried persimmons to Japan and South-East Asia have averaged 2,000 to 3,000 t per annum since 1964.

Korea
Korea is the major producer of persimmon. Annual production in 1990 was about 65,000 t from an area of 10,000 ha. Non-astringent production was 85% of the total production. The harvest season is from November to December.

Most of Korea’s production is consumed domestically. Small quantities are exported to Japan.

South-East Asia
South-East Asia covers the countries of Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore. This area is not an important producer of persimmons. Apart from about 30 ha grown in Thailand, no other significant commercial production has been recorded.

The demand for persimmon in South-East Asia is met by imports, most of which come from Japan, China and New Zealand. Prices in 1988 ranged from US$ 1.90 to US$ 5.60 per kg. There are no significant quarantine barriers to imports into South-East Asia. This market is regarded as a developing one by producers in the Southern Hemisphere.

Israel
Israel cultivates over 1,200 ha of persimmons, of which only 10% are over six years of age. This accounts for the low annual production. Assuming a yield of 20 t per hectare, potential production could exceed 24,000 t per annum within the next decade. Most plantings are of the astringent cv. Triumph, which is treated to remove astringency before being marketed as Sharon Fruit. It is understood that the Israeli Ministry of Agriculture intends to extend the planting of Sharon Fruit by another 500 ha as soon as possible. Harvesting extends from November to January.

The major export market is Europe, in particular Great Britain, France, Germany, and Scandinavia. Total exports have averaged around 3,000 t annually, at prices from US$ 1.02 to US$ 3.20 per kg.

European Community
Persimmons were introduced into Europe in the mid-19th century and are currently produced in the south of France, Spain and Italy. Italy is the major producer, with 70,000 t being produced from 3,405 ha in 1987. Spain is reported as producing 500 t annually. Although present production is based on astringent cultivars, significant new plantings of non-astringent cultivars are occurring. The harvest season extends from September to November.

Most production is consumed domestically. The European Community imports most of it’s requirements from Israel, with lesser quantities from Brazil and Chile. Prices per kg ranging from US$ 2.05 in the United Kingdom to US$ 8.16 in Germany have been recorded. Trade barriers to protect the domestic market have been imposed in the from of an 8 percent tariff during the domestic supply period and 4% at other times.

United States
The production of persimmons has increased from less than 500 t in 1980 to over 4,000 t in 1988. The area planted in 1988 exceeded 600 ha, most of which was in California. The recent expansion of American production has been based on non-astringent cultivars, in particular Fuyu. Harvesting extends from early October to mid December.

Most production is consumed domestically. Los Angeles is the major wholesale market. Small quantities have been exported to destinations such as South-East Asia and Australia. Returns to growers vary between US$ 0.28 to US$ 1.12 per kg. Quarantine barriers to countries which host fruit flies have been imposed.

MAJOR PRODUCING COUNTRIES - SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE

New Zealand
Current plantings total 260 ha. In 1991 production totalled 1,880 t, of which 196 t were exported to Japan, and 173 t to Singapore. Most of the current production is from the non-astringent cv. Fuyu.

However, as non-astringent cultivars sometimes do not completely lose their astringency and do not reach acceptable sugar levels under cool moist summer conditions there has been a shift in planting towards high quality astringent cultivars such as ‘Tone Wase’. Harvesting occurs between late April and June.

The New Zealand industry is export-oriented, in particular towards the Japanese market. South-East Asia and Australia are becoming more important markets for fruit which does not meet the exacting quality standards of the Japanese market. Early season prices in Japan have exceeded US$ 20.00 per kg. By the end of the season in July, prices can fall to below US$ 6.50 per kg. Exports totalled 235,000 trays (940 t) in 1991, compared with 95,000 trays (380 t) in 1989. New Zealand is fruit fly-free; restrictions against fruit from host countries apply to fruit imported into New Zealand.

Brazil
Brazil is the second largest producer of persimmons in the world. Annual production is estimated at 450,000 t from 45,000 ha. Harvest occurs from February to April.

Based on limited data specifying Brazilian product in export markets, it is assumed that a large domestic market must exist. In 1984, 60 t were exported to Europe.

Chile
The persimmon industry in Chile is in it’s early stages. The majority of plantings (92%) are less than five years old. Total production in 1988 was 171 t from 144 ha. Harvesting extends from April to June. The most important cultivar is Hachiya, which is astringent, though it is not the most important cultivar exported.

The industry is developing an export orientation. Exports to Europe and the USA increased from 39 t in 1986 to 106 t in 1988. Prices vary between US$ 0.77 to US$ 1.28 per kg. Chile has fruit-fly-free status, thus has access to other fruit-fly-free markets.

Australia
Although persimmons have been grown in Australia for over a hundred years, significant commercial development has only taken place since the late seventies. A planted area of 400 ha produced 200 t in 1988. There are currently an estimated 200,000 trees planted, most of which are less than 6 years old. A yield of 25 kg per tree would give the industry a potential annual production of 5,000 t when current plantings mature in the late nineties. Although there are small areas still producing astringent cultivars, virtually all of the recent expansions have been of non-astringent cultivars, particularly Fuyu. Australia’s harvesting season extends from early February in North Queensland to as late as June in cooler parts of Southern Australia.

The domestic market is current consuming most of the country’s production, and could be still further developed as more consumers become aware of the non-astringent product. In Queensland and New South Wales, and more recently in South Australia and Western Australia, non-astringent persimmons have been marketed very successfully as ‘Fuyufruit’ - a name given to them to remove any association in consumers minds with astringent cultivars. Australia domestic wholesale prices of non-astringent fruit have averaged US$ 9.12 per single layer tray of 4.0 to 4.5 kg over the last few seasons.

Australia exported 22 t in 1987-88. Virtually all of this was non-astringent fruit, of which almost 18 t came from Queensland and New South Wales. 40% was sent to Singapore, and 15% to Kuwait. Other destinations included Hong Kong, Malaysia, New Caledonia, the Philippines, and Saudi Arabia. In the 1989 season, trial shipments were also sent to Europe and some Pacific Islands. As Australia is a host country for fruit fly, exports to destinations such as Japan and North America are currently banned. In the last two years, quantities of persimmons have been imported from California and New Zealand.

SUMMARY
The world trade in persimmons is dominated by the producers and consumers of the northern hemisphere. Astringent cultivars are mostly consumed domestically, while non-astringent fruit is more commonly traded on export markets. In most countries where the persimmon industry is expanding, it is doing so as a result of planting non-astringent cultivars. Southern Hemisphere countries are expanding their orchards as a response to opportunities to supply out-of-season fruit to Northern Hemisphere consumers. The major production constraints for export are the need to satisfy requirements of quality, quarantine and long storage life for sea freighting to importing countries.

A summary of world trade is presented in Table 1.

Table 1.
World Supply of Persimmons (N.A. no figures available)

Country	Area (ha)	Production (t)	Exports (t)	Major Destination
China	150 000	567 750	1 000 (1989)	S.E. Asia
Brazil	45 000	450 000	60 (1984)	Europe
Japan	26 000	287 000	4 424 (1988)	S.E. Asia
Italy	3 405	70 000	N.A. (1987)
Korea	10 000	65 000	N.A. Japan
USA	600	4 000	N.A. (1988)	S.E. Asia
Israel	1 200	>3 000	3 000 (1989)	Europe
New Zealand	260	1 880	940 (1991)	Singapore, Japan
Australia	400	200	N.A.	S.E. Asia
Chile	144	171	106 (1988)	Europe

Source:
Originally published in Chronica Horticulturae Vol:33, #2, June 1993 Pg5. Submitted by A.Mowat and V.Willis for HortNET^TM.