Classification
Product TypeProcessed Food
Product FormDried Slices/Pieces
Industry PositionValue-Added Processed Fruit Product
Market
Dried persimmon slices are a processed fruit snack product made by dehydrating persimmon (Diospyros kaki) into sliced or piece formats recognized in Codex’s dried-fruit standard. Upstream persimmon production is concentrated in a small set of countries led by China, with Spain, South Korea, and Japan also significant producers, which anchors processing know-how and raw material availability in these regions. International trade visibility can be limited because dried persimmon slices are often captured under residual dried-fruit customs subheadings (e.g., HS 081340 “other dried fruit”), making product-specific flow analysis less transparent than for enumerated dried fruits. Commercial differentiation typically centers on moisture level (fully dried vs semi-dried), appearance/texture, and the presence or absence of sulfiting/anti-browning treatments and related labeling.
Market GrowthNot Mentioned
Major Producing Countries- 중국Largest persimmon producer in FAOSTAT-referenced global rankings; key origin for raw fruit used in dried-persimmon processing.
- 스페인Major persimmon producer in FAOSTAT-referenced global rankings; notable commercial production base for Diospyros kaki in Europe.
- 대한민국Major persimmon producer in FAOSTAT-referenced global rankings; traditional and commercial dried-persimmon production is well established.
- 일본Major persimmon producer in FAOSTAT-referenced global rankings; long-standing dried-persimmon (hoshigaki) tradition supports product know-how.
- 아제르바이잔Listed among significant persimmon producers in FAOSTAT-referenced global rankings.
- 브라질Listed among significant persimmon producers in FAOSTAT-referenced global rankings.
Supply Calendar- Japan:Oct, NovTypical fresh-persimmon season window; drying activity generally follows harvest.
- Spain:Oct, Nov, DecCommercial persimmon season is commonly described as October–December; processing into dried formats typically follows raw-fruit availability.
- South Korea:Oct, NovDried-persimmon heritage production references late-October to early-November harvest timing for drying-suitable varieties.
Specification
Major VarietiesDiospyros kaki (persimmon species covered by Codex dried-persimmon provisions), Hachiya, Saijo, Tone Wase, Fuyu, Jiro, Rojo Brillante
Physical Attributes- Sliced/pieces style: peeled, pitted persimmon flesh cut into irregular shapes, sizes, and thicknesses (Codex style definition).
- Surface sugar crystallization (“sugar bloom”) may appear during/after drying as sugars migrate and crystallize.
Compositional Metrics- Codex moisture content ranges for dried persimmon styles include: sliced persimmon flesh 15–40% (by mass); dried whole 20–35%; high-moisture semi-dried 35–60%.
Grades- Codex CXS 360-2020 (General Standard for Dried Fruits) Annex E provides product identity and key quality factors for dried persimmons used as an international reference.
Packaging- Moisture-barrier primary packaging (sealed pouches/liners) to control moisture uptake and reduce mold risk during storage and distribution.
- Secondary packaging commonly uses cartons for export distribution; format varies by buyer (retail packs vs bulk packs).
ProcessingProcessed by sun drying or other dehydration methods into a marketable dried product (Codex product definition).Optional ingredients recognized in the Codex standard for dried persimmons include flour (e.g., rice/corn flour), edible vegetable oils, and edible materials used for stuffing (where applicable).
Supply Chain
Value Chain- Harvest (ripe persimmon) -> inbound sorting/defect removal -> washing/sanitation -> peeling and pitting -> slicing -> optional anti-browning/sulfiting treatment (spec-dependent) -> dehydration (sun or hot-air) -> moisture equalization/conditioning -> inspection (foreign matter, mold) -> packaging (moisture-barrier) -> distribution (ambient dry; semi-dried may require chilled/frozen).
Demand Drivers- Snack-format demand for fruit-based, naturally sweet products (including gifting and seasonal consumption in East Asian markets).
- Buyer segmentation around moisture/texture (fully dried vs semi-dried) and additive positioning (e.g., sulfited vs unsulfured).
Temperature- Fully dried slices are typically distributed as ambient shelf-stable products when kept cool and dry; temperature control is secondary to humidity control.
- Higher-moisture semi-dried products have shorter distribution windows and can require refrigerated or frozen logistics depending on the product specification and target shelf life.
Shelf Life- Shelf-life performance is strongly driven by final moisture content and post-drying moisture control; higher moisture increases susceptibility to fungal spoilage during storage and distribution.
- Traditional solar drying can increase exposure risks (foreign matter, discoloration, and fungal contamination) if not tightly controlled.
Risks
Food Safety HighMoisture-driven fungal spoilage is a deal-breaker risk for dried persimmon slices, especially for higher-moisture (semi-dried) products and for batches produced under variable or traditional solar drying conditions; mold contamination can rapidly reduce usable inventory and trigger import detentions or recalls.Control moisture to specification (Codex moisture ranges by style), implement GHP/HACCP-based controls across slicing/drying/packing, and use moisture-barrier packaging with strict humidity management through storage and distribution.
Regulatory Compliance MediumSulfiting or sulfur-fumigation practices used to limit browning and microbial growth can create compliance and reputational risk if sulfites are present but not managed against buyer specs or labeled appropriately; sulfites are also a recognized allergen category under EU/UK rules above defined thresholds.Define additive policy (sulfited vs unsulfured) per market, verify residual levels via COA/testing, and ensure allergen/additive labeling aligns with destination-market rules (e.g., EU/UK sulphur dioxide/sulphites declarations above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L as SO2).
Customs Classification MediumDried persimmon slices are commonly reported under residual dried-fruit subheadings (e.g., HS 081340 “other dried fruit”), and some prepared formats may be treated differently under national tariff lines; inconsistent classification can affect duty treatment, documentation, and comparability of trade statistics.Align HS classification and product description (dried vs prepared/preserved) with customs brokers and competent authorities in key markets, and maintain consistent commercial invoices/spec sheets that match the applicable HS definitions.
Sustainability- Food loss and valorization dynamics: persimmons can face high cosmetic/quality sorting losses in fresh channels, motivating processing into dried products to extend usability.
- Energy use and emissions footprint vary by dehydration method (sun drying vs mechanical/hot-air drying) and by the need for chilled/frozen distribution in semi-dried segments.
FAQ
Is there an international standard definition for dried persimmon slices?Yes. Codex’s General Standard for Dried Fruits (CXS 360-2020) includes an Annex for dried persimmons that defines the product and explicitly recognizes a “sliced/pieces” style made from peeled, pitted persimmon flesh dried by sun or other dehydration methods.
What moisture range is specified for dried persimmon flesh slices in the Codex standard?Codex CXS 360-2020 (Annex on dried persimmons) lists a moisture content range of 15% to 40% (by mass) for “dried persimmon flesh, peeled, pitted and sliced.”
Why is mold control treated as a top risk for dried persimmon slice trade?Because fungal contamination can occur during drying, storage, and distribution—especially when products have higher moisture (including semi-dried styles) or when drying conditions are variable—leading to rapid quality loss and potential food-safety actions by buyers or regulators.
When do sulphur dioxide/sulphites need to be declared as an allergen on labels?In UK/EU-aligned allergen rules summarized by the UK Food Standards Agency, sulphur dioxide and/or sulphites must be declared when present above 10 mg/kg or 10 mg/L (expressed as total SO2) in the finished food as consumed.