Japan’s persimmon volumes have bounced back from a poor season last year, but exports could present a challenge as consumer concerns over nuclear contamination from the Fukushima nuclear power plant persist.
“This coming season we have a big crop of persimmon and there will be pressure to sell that volume into Thailand,” said Don Okazoe of Japanese Exporter IPM Nishimoto. “The most important thing will be how to gain back consumer confidence in the safety of Japanese fruit,” he told Asiafruit.
The company plans to test persimmon for radiation despite the distance between growing areas and the stricken reactor in Fukushima making contamination unlikely.
“The main persimmon production areas, such as Wakayama and Nara are located it the west of Japan and these areas are around 600km from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station,” said Okazoe. “Moreover, all distributed fruits from these areas are guaranteed by the JA or the agricultural society as being safe for consumption.”
He added that the company will work closely with buyers in Japan’s major export markets to help ensure customers are confident produce from the region is safe.
The full article will be published in the October 2011 issue of Asiafruit.
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