Sharonfruit takes off

The past eight years have seen the establishment of a considerable Sharonfruit (astringent persimmon) industry in South Africa, with the 2006 harvest yielding 4,000 tonnes from 350 bearing hectares. With total plantings at around 700 hectares and projections for the current harvest at 7,000-8,000t, growers have fast become a force to be reckoned with on the international marketplace. Louise Brodie reports.