The Spanish region of Valencia has announced plans for a new scheme designed to increase production of kaki persimmon fruit following crop losses during 2008/09 campaign estimated at 15,000 tonnes.
According to Protected Geographical Indicator (PGI) regulatory body Kaki Ribera del Xúquer, the pre-season crop forecast of 35,000 tonnes of fruit was reduced to some 20,000 tonnes as a result of poor weather and a fungus that attacked plants.
However, the regulator told Las Provincias that the forecast, which was based on the previous season’s harvest, faltered during mid-December, when inclement weather delayed collection of crops.
In the wake of the poor harvest, Valencia’s council of agriculture announced that it had signed an agreement with Kaki Ribera del Xúquer to encourage and stimulate the production of persimmon in the region.
Under the plans, which have been allocated a budget in excess of €550,000, the council and the regulator hope to develop new varieties of kaki and transform the production and marketing of the fruit.
Kaki Ribera del Xúquer told the newspaper that some 60 per cent of this year’s harvest would be exported, primarily to Germany but also to several other countries including Switzerland, France and Italy.
