Spanish persimmon sales soar

Spanish persimmon is the fastest-growing fruit in UK stores, according to the country's producers.

In 2011 more than 5.1 million persimmon were sold in the UK - two and a half times the previous year's total and a 6,018 per cent rise since 2005, figures from promotional body Foods from Spain reveal.

The organisation claims some supermarkets now sell more persimmon than mangoes during the season, and believes that further growth can come through positioning the fruit as a snack for kids or even for the Halloween market.