Young people love this fruit. On the one hand because of its sweet and delicate taste, and on the other hand because of its crunchiness and its ease of consumption. Additionally, it is winning new foreign markets. The possibility to cut it into slices, peel it and eat it without getting your hands dirty is a major plus.
We are talking about the Rojo Brillante persimmon (tough pulp). The harvesting of this variety has just started in Emilia-Romagna. The Agrintesa di Faenza cooperative (first national persimmon player) started persimmon farming in Italy over ten years ago, investing in the production and in plant-technologies that are proving to be excellent.
Rojo Brillante persimmon
Enrico Bucchi, vice manager of Alegra - a business unit of Argrintesa - explained, “Our producers are increasingly interested in this persimmon. Currently, we have 130 hectares, with 12 years old plans and with 2 years old plans that still have to enter production; therefore, we are expecting a 10 % increase in the production within the near future. 250 companies of our Group devoted large fields to this persimmon, allowing them to find new marketing opportunities and to be satisfied in terms of profits”.
For the just-started 2018 campaign, Agrintes is expecting a production of 2.800 tons of Rojo Brillante. This cultivar did not experience particular volume variations. Yet, on the other hand, the Tipo persimmon variety production is expected to be of 3.600 tons – thus significantly lower than the last season. The Tipo variety is the most traditional and aromatic persimmon, with a soft pulp that can be eaten even with a spoon. The Tipo persimmon is farmed by more than 700 partners on a total of 200 hectares.
Bucchi explained, “The 2018 campaign is expected to be good, both in terms of quality and size. Especially compared to last year, when we had to cope with definitely smaller fruits. Now, the average size is acceptable, the quality of the product is very high – plants with fewer products grow better fruits. During this phase, we did not experience issues or flaws regarding the fruits”.
Differently from last year, Agrintesa is expecting a 20% decrease in the production of Tipo persimmon, for 2018. Bucchi pointed out, “This is just a ‘physiologic decrease’, which is happening precisely after a year that registered a considerable increase in the production. Plants dropped the fruits early, and the spring and summer climate conditions contributed to this decrease. However, these are situations that are completely natural in terms of productive alternation within this sector. Our goal is to promote these productions on the markets.
Stefano Soli, Valfrutta Fresco general manager, stated, “Alegra and Valfrutta Fresco, the two business units of the Group, have the job of marketing and promoting these important productions. We are present all over the country and abroad, also. We have a wide range of packaging able to satisfy every demand and with only one brand. Valfrutta is the undisputed byword for premium quality and Italian style.
For this new campaign, Agrintesa will use for the first time the new processing plant, especially for the Tipo persimmon. This plant is technologically advanced, innovative and one of its kind in Italy. Through an optical selection, It can separate fruits by size and ripeness, while keeping the quality of the fruits untouched.