The start of the Italian persimmon harvest season is approaching, and those in the industry have high expectations. Antonio Gallicchio of Gallicchio Frutta, creator of the "Divino-Il kaki Italiano" brand, shared his forecasts for the ripening, volume, and market trends of the Rojo Brillante variety.
"The harvest of the first branded fruit is expected in about ten days, and in any case, by 10 October. The schedule has been affected by a slight delay in ripening, primarily due to the warm weather in September and the lack of significant temperature fluctuations. However, the fruit is of good size," says the Production Manager, Gallicchio.
© Gallicchio Frutta SrlsCurrent state of the fruit
He continues, "The decision to wait for the optimal moment is also linked to last season's experience." The previous year, despite starting the harvest on 4 October, there were complaints from buyers. The persimmons were edible, but not fully ripe, and lacked an attractive color. We hope that the expected drop in temperatures next week will allow the fruit to reach its ideal stage of ripeness. Ripening in the fields is not uniform. Some plots are at 50-60%, while others are at 30% and will need another month to be ready for harvest.
There is significant activity on the commercial front. There are already many requests for supplies, and interest is high. "The operators are frantic," says Gallicchio. "They can't wait to begin. Everyone is calling us to find out when the first boxes of dehydrated persimmons will be available. We are witnessing an unprecedented upheaval, which leads us to believe that it will be a remarkable debut."
© Gallicchio Frutta SrlsAntonio Gallicchio
Regarding volumes, estimates indicate a minimum of 3,000 tons. Several factors contributed to this result. While some batches are missing, new ones have been added, and some members expect production to increase by 50 to 60 tons compared to 2024. New productions are also being evaluated in southern regions, including Sicily. The first batches will be sold in wholesale markets and supermarkets in Italy and Europe.
For more information:
Divino - Il kaki italiano
Gallicchio Frutta Srls
Via Piemonte n. 36/b
75020 Scanzano Jonico (MT) - Italy
+39 335 5872063 (Antonio)
+39 334 8121776 (Francesca)
[email protected]
Ilkakidivino.com