Kaki growers in Valencia are having to revise their positive estimates for this season, after a bout of cold weather destroyed much of the late-season crop.
Rafael Perucho Máñez at regulatory association Kaki Ribera Del Xúquer told Fruitnet.com that up to 80 per cent of late-season kaki persimmons, equating to an estimated 15,000 tonnes were damaged when temperatures as low -6°C struck Spain’s Valencia region late last week.
The loss of volume is particularly unfortunate for the kaki association as it had only recently begun a major promotional campaign in the UK with retailers Tesco and Morrisons, added Mr Perucho.
The region had been expected to produce 50,000 tonnes of kaki this season. Separately, Valencia’s agriculture council said €100,000 has been spent on fungicide treatments for citrus affected by heavy rains last month in the region.
