The cultivation of persimmons, their marketing and future will be the topics covered by “KaKi Attraction, the 1st International Persimmon Symposium.”
This meeting will be held within the framework of the technical seminars during the International Fruit and Vegetable Trade Fair, Fruit Attraction, the seventh edition of which will take place from the 28th to the 30th of October in Madrid.
The first talk will cover “The crop’s background, branding and positioning”, by Rafael Perucho, from the Regulating Council of the Protected Denomination of Origin ‘Kaki Ribera del Xúquer’. The second talk will deal with the “Analysis and distribution of the European market”, given by Francisco Borras (Anecoop) and “Persimmon production, cultivation and future prospects” will also be analysed by Andel del Pino (Anecoop).
Representatives from the distribution area will also participate in the seminar, showing persimmon positioning in their supermarket chains. Specifically, Matthieu Lovery from Carrefour and Jose Miguel Benavent from Mercadona will intervene. Lastly, there will be a talk on the nutritional characteristics of the persimmon, a subject that will be covered by Montaña Cámara, from the Pharmacy Faculty at the Complutense University of Madrid.
After the talks, a debate will be held where a large part of the abovementioned speakers will take part, along with Crystal Cottrill (Loblaw Companies Ltd), Cirilo Arnandis (from the DO Kaki Ribera del Xúquer), Vicente Masiá from the Spanish Persimmon Association and Juan Angel Abrit, from the Foreign Trade Institute (ICEX).
The latest information up-dated by the General Directorate for Customs positioned Spanish persimmon exports until July 2015 at 25,718 tonnes, a 24% increase compared to the same period in 2014, with a value of 24.8 million euros (- 2%). The Valencian Community is the main persimmon exporter with 18,816 tonnes and 18.2 million euros, 73% of the total exported by Spain, both in volume and in value. The main destinations are Germany, with 4,671 tonnes and 5.3 million euros during the period analysed; Italy with 4,865 tonnes and 4.3 million euros and France with 3,885 tonnes and 3.4 million euros.
During 2014 as a whole, persimmon exports reached a total of 156,252 tonnes for a value of 150 million euros. The export campaign mainly takes place in the months of October, November, December and January, although the general campaign mainly runs from September to March.
“Kaki Attraction. 1st International Persimmon Symposium” will be held on Wednesday, the 28th of October, from 4 pm to 7 pm in the Fruit Forum in Hall 8 of Ifema. This seventh edition of the event has recorded a 20% increase in the number of participating companies, reaching a figure of 1,000 exhibitors.
