Italian persimmons quickly reach Switzerland and Austria

It is an unremarkable season for the Italian kakis of the Tipo variety, at least from a price point of view. There is something to be said about quantities and quality, says Antonio Zani, sales manager at the Granfrutta Zani growers' association. "There are about a quarter fewer persimmons available this year due to bad weather conditions, such as floods, hail and frost in the spring, lack of rain in the summer and especially attacks by the fruit fly." While 20 years ago persimmons only required 1 or 2 treatments with crop protection products annually, that number has now increased due to the cochineal aphid and the fruit fly. "And with the prolonged drought and high temperatures, we cannot do without irrigation." As for sales, Zani says sales will end at the end of November. "We supply the fruit to the supermarket chains. The kakis are always packaged. This allows better management at the point of sale and the fruit also arrives at the consumer's home in one piece, because in the ...