This year, after several difficult seasons with yields considerably below their potential, it seems that prospects point to a "normal" year for the Rojo Brillante persimmon, with production expected to reach around 170,000 tons. Of these, between 30,000 and 40,000 tons will be certified with the Protected Designation of Origin Kaki de la Ribera del Xúquer.
"In recent years, we have suffered various incidents, but, fortunately, for the time being, it seems that this season won't be remarkably affected by either the weather or pests," says Cirilo Arnandis, President of the Regulatory Body of the PDO Kaki Ribera del Xúquer.
© Joel Pitarch | FreshPlaza.com
According to data from the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the acreage devoted to persimmon cultivation in Spain has been decreasing in recent years. "This applies for sure to the Designation of Origin, where we have very accurate data. In recent years, the registered acreage has actually been reduced, especially among growers registered as individuals, that is, who are not part of any cooperatives, for which the drop is not as significant. In fact, cooperatives play a vital role in ensuring the profitability of the plantations. I believe that, for cooperatives, the acreage is stable, and the yields we can offer our growers will determine this trend," says Cirilo Arnandis.
The increase in production costs has been a constant in recent years, according to Arnandis, and especially for persimmon growers, who have needed additional treatments that were not previously necessary. "Logically, these costs have to be passed on to clients, because growers alone cannot bear the high increases we have experienced in recent years."
"As for the markets' response to this rise in costs, we've been unable for some years now to meet demand due to insufficient productions, so we hope that this season, with volumes closer to normal levels, things will go more smoothly and, above all, that it will help us restore our relationships with clients and consumers, because in some countries, especially outside the EU, it has been practically impossible to offer continuity in the supply," he says.
Exports are very important for the persimmon sector and, according to Cirilo Arnandis, if volumes have fallen in some years, it has always been as a consequence of the lack of supply. "We have been focusing more on EU markets, but logically, our aim is to reach all the markets where we are already present and grow both in emerging markets and in those where we are not yet present. The situation in China has also been affected by the lack of production in recent seasons, so we have a challenge ahead of us, which we naturally want to complete."
The PDO Regulatory Body is dealing with the continuous increase in the production of other countries by reminding us of the added value of their certified product. "This was logically to be expected, given the growth of the production in our area and the commercial success of the persimmon in European markets. The arrival of new competitors was to be expected. We have always worked to position our product and our brand as a leader in terms of quality, since our persimmon is the only one in the world with a Designation of Origin."
"In the more than 25 years since the creation of the Regulatory Body, we have been working continuously in both production and promotion with the goal of positioning ourselves as a leader compared to other productions. We believe that the work we have done over these years, the trust generated by our brand, and the unrivalled quality of our local Rojo Brillante variety have brought us to the top among both retailers and consumers," says Arnandis.
The last few years have been challenging in terms of both climate and pest control. "As far as climate is concerned, there isn't as much room for maneuver, but when it comes to pest control, we have the challenge of managing to control the current pests, which are posing a considerable threat. To ensure the crop has a future, effective control of these pests and those that may appear in the future is necessary. Above all, we will need the support of the different administrations to obtain authorizations for the use of effective phytosanitary products. As far as sales are concerned, we believe that we still have a long way to go in terms of persimmon consumption and awareness, which is why we are going to continue promoting our Persimon® brand and the Designation of Origin," says Cirilo Arnandis.
In fact, in 2025, they are going to invest more than 2 million euros in promotional campaigns, with European programs in Spain, France, Canada, and Brazil, as well as brand promotion campaigns in Spain and specific initiatives in other countries. "This is undoubtedly the largest investment made so far by the cooperatives associated with the regulatory council, and with them we want to take another step forward in the product's promotion," says Arnandis.
For more information:
Protected Designation of Origin
Kaki Ribera del Xúquer
Plaça País Valencià, 7
46250 l'Alcúdia, València. Spain
Tel.: +34 962 99 77 02
[email protected]
persimon.eu