Another good season on the production and commercial front draws to a close

The harvest of the Maxim persimmon in the Italian orchards is coming to an end. Once again, this season, the new early kaki cultivar with firm, seedless flesh and no post-harvest treatment has been highly appreciated by consumers for the consistency and sweetness of its fruit. 

"The commercial and field results obtained by the growers in recent years have proved us right about the potential and quality of this variety. The areas invested will tend to increase in the next 2-3 years, thanks to the continued interest of many companies. In any case, we will guarantee a limited production that, when the project is complete, will not exceed 500 hectares, so as to maintain the high value and exclusivity of the product; a management model that we have now adopted for all the varieties offered by our company," explained Aldo Gallo, General Manager of Comercial Gallo, the Italian licensee for this kaki variety.

The fruit's characteristics and organoleptic qualities represent a great commercial advantage offered by the variety Maxim, particularly in a market slot where the product is lacking. "The possibility of having a premium, early fruit with low cultivation and processing costs is becoming an asset," continued Gallo.

"Despite the adverse weather conditions, with a year marked by a severe frost during the start of vegetation that compromised flowers and buds, followed by a very hot and dry summer, an excellent result was achieved in terms of both size (250/300-grams on average) and yield. If normal weather conditions had existed, production would have been at least twice as high as it is now.