Japanese researchers have developed a sweet seedless persimmon in Fukuoka Prefecture and are looking to expand production both in Japan and overseas, according to the Japan Times.
The Akiou, or King of Autumn, persimmon is sweet, crunchy and almost entirely seedless, with a bright orange skin.
A prefectural official told the Times that while astringent seedless persimmons have been on the market for some time, this was the first seedless variety that was sweet.
Work on the Akiou persimmons began in 2001, with reports that some stores in Japan have been selling the persimmons for ¥1,296 (US$10.70) each, with six tonnes expected to be harvested this season.
