The municipality of Itatiba, located in São Paulo, Brazil, anticipates a persimmon harvest of approximately 5.2 thousand tons this season, mirroring 2024's figures. The Municipal Secretariat of Environment and Agriculture confirms no major setbacks from fruit abortion or hailstorms, factors often impacting yields.
Rodrigo Bisetto, a local grower, manages three hectares of persimmons across multiple properties. He notes, "This year the production is better than last, the fruits are a little smaller, but they are beautiful and very sweet." In Itatiba, part of the Circuito das Águas, over 70 producers cultivate around 160 hectares. The Rama Forte variety dominates, preferred for its climate adaptability and ease of management, unlike the more demanding Fuyu variety.
Roberto Ferrari, another producer, splits his cultivation between 300 Rama Forte trees and 250 Fuyu trees, the latter valued for better post-harvest conservation. He states, "Fuyu is harvested firm and goes straight to consumption, it lasts up to 10 days on the shelf. It produces a little less, but has a good return."
Current producer prices are about $0.57 per kilo, a rise from the $0.19 to $0.29 range in 2023. Manual and selective harvesting remain prevalent, with pruning occurring between June and August to induce budding. Itatiba's proximity to consumer hubs like Campinas and São Paulo aids in market access, with some producers also venturing into rural tourism.
Carlos Alberto Capelleto, a producer, diversifies income by creating persimmon-based products. He remarks on an unexpected yield improvement, "I left more branches on the trees because the orchard was still recovering from a hailstorm two years ago. I thought it would produce less, but it produced a lot of good quality fruit."
Source: Abrafrutas