The persimmon sector demands the opening of new markets

The persimmon sector continues to demand the opening of new markets so that this crop can continue to develop profitably. In this sense, from the Spanish Association of the Persimmon are clear that it is necessary to cross the borders of the European Union and have long demanded the Ministry of Agriculture to initiate the relevant procedures to sign protocols with countries that offer possibilities for export. And one more year, this was one of the issues addressed during the Extraordinary General Assembly held recently by the entity in Alginet.

In the absence of assessing the damage caused by the frosts in March, which affected the trees that were sprouting, from the Spanish Association of the Persimmon foresee for the next campaign a harvest of good quality and an approximate volume of 400 million kilos. Pascual Prats, elected president of the entity after the unexpected death of Vicente Masiá, says that “it is still early to make a balance of losses. In certain areas there are significant damages but figures can not be reliably advanced yet. However, in the whole of the harvest we do not believe that an affectation of 20% is exceeded “.

During the Assembly it was found that, due to the excess of supply, at certain moments of the campaign the pressure of wholesalers and distribution chains are causing a decrease in prices in recent years. “In fact, in the last season, December frosts affected marketing positively. The cold destroyed part of the production when the markets were saturated. The prices were moving at that time between 18 and 20 cents per kilo and from the frosts prices went up. And the affected producers could also collect from the insurance. In the end, frosts were a lesser evil, “says Pascual Prats.

In this context of overproduction and loss of profitability, the expansion of persimmon has stopped. “The plantations have slowed down and this year nothing else will be planted. On the contrary, slowly they begin to pluck plots of fruit trees. This is caused because at the moment there is too much production and prices have been falling in recent years. That is why we demand the opening of new destinations for commercialization, in order to unblock the community market and maintain the profitability and development of this crop “, concludes the president of the Spanish Association of Persimmons.

Collaboration with Decco

The Spanish Association of the Persimmon and DECCO IBÉRICA have undertaken a collaborative relationship in the field of fungicides for postharvest. It is about extending the useful life of the fruit and reaching more distant markets. But to get to these destinations you need ‘weapons’ and new technologies that allow you to safely face the long journeys that the fruit must bear.

During the Assembly, DECCO presented the results offered by Deccopyr POT, the first authorized postharvest fungicide for persimmon for the control of Alternaria alternata at the registered doses and under the same conditions of use established in all registered crops. In this way, this product becomes a strategic ally essential for all those producers and marketers who intend to extend the commercial life of a fruit that, to date, did not have any effective solution available.

The sector of the persimmon came demanding some solution for the black spot of the persimmon (‘Alternaria black spot’, ABS) caused by Alternaria alternata. This fungus is the culprit that, campaign after campaign, the decreases in a sector increase, that tries so much to extend the conservation as to improve its presentation in markets of export more and more distant.

The product has been tested both in the laboratory, by inoculation, and in commercial storage conditions in the persimmon varieties “Rojo Brillante” (Valencia) and “Sharon” (Huelva), demonstrating an optimal control in all cases. In addition, Deccopyr POT also shows efficacy against other agents of secondary importance in persimmons such as Botrytis, Penicillium and Colletotrichum.

Currently, DECCO IBÉRICA has two commercial formats of the product, 250 grams and 1 kilo, which can be treated 12,500 Kg and 50,000 Kg respectively. The product adapts to the working system of the warehouses since, thanks to its smoke formulation, it offers the possibility of its application both before and after the treatments with 1-MCP in a chamber or container.

In addition Deccopyr POT has a low toxicological profile, which is demonstrated both by the broad allowed MRLs (15 ppm in persimmon) and by its form of application, which avoids generating and discharging wastewater. In fact, there is no need for a safe term, so the fruit could be consumed just after the 8 hours needed for treatment.

Deccopyr POT is the fumigant presentation of Pyrimethanil, a last generation fungicide of broad spectrum efficacy against Monilia, Penicillium, Botrytis, Gloesporium, Alternaria and low toxicological profile.