AUSTRALIA'S persimmon season is looking to defy the extended heat and dry conditions of summer to produce a solid autumn season with Western Australian growers set to up their output.
The persimmon season kicked off in Queensland in late February/early March and extends through to June with supply coming from the southern states and from Western Australia.
Persimmons are produced in all mainland states of Australia.
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Persimmons Australia president, Chris Stillard, said most regions had a normal to heavy flowering in Spring followed by a good fruit set.
"Whilst there was a fair bit of fruit drop early on and, whilst it is still early days, I think we are looking at an above average crop overall," Mr Stillard said.
The season in Western Australia, in contrast, is coming off the back of a wet winter in the Perth Hills and the persimmon trees have benefited.
Flowering was heavy and predictions are for a bumper harvest from that state.
"Annual production of persimmons across Australia has been sitting around 2500 tonnes but there is a lot of interest from fruit growers along the Murray River and in the Perth Hills who are looking at persimmons as an alternative crop," Mr Stillard said.
Persimmons are well suited to the Australian conditions, preferring sub-tropical to mild climates. They are tolerant to heat but do not like extreme cold and are also drought resistant.
Mr Stillard said he was confident persimmons had a very bright future, providing growers and their supply chain partners keep the quality up and look after their markets.
Persimmons Australia will host the 2019 Australian Persimmon Industry Conference and Field Day event in Perth, WA from June 18 to 20 as it works towards uniting the industry from coast to coast.
The two-and-a-half-day program will deliver an update on the current recommendations for persimmon production and marketing, and is aimed not only at established growers, but also those interested or new to growing persimmons.
Other industry stakeholders, including marketers and product suppliers, are encouraged to attend.