Strong winds which struck the Spanish region of Valencia last week have reportedly caused significant damage to kaki (persimmon) production, with initial estimates suggesting around 35,000-40,000 tonnes of this year's harvest – equal to around 30 per cent of the total crop – may now have been lost.
As reported by Valencia Fruits, the adverse conditions during the peak harvesting period have apparently damaged more than 10,000 tonnes of the fruit, adding to the estimated 30,000 tonnes said to have been lost to the fungus Mycosphaerella Nawa.
The area worst hit by the winds is understood to be La Ribera, one of the country's leading production areas for geographically protected kaki, as well as the Albaida Valley.
Vincent Monzo, president of the PDO Ribera del Xúquer Kaki Association, said the situation came at a time when less than 10 per cent of this year's harvest has been sold.
'We need to redouble our efforts to ensure that consumers are eating a product which retains the right organoleptic characteristics,' he said.
A total of around 20,000 tonnes of kaki is thought to be available in the area around La Ribera.
