Reducing Postharvest Losses in Persimmon. Pre and Postharvest Aspects Involved in Fruit Quality and New Strategies for Valorization

Abstract

on trees until they overripen and can be consumed accordingly as soft persimmons. I.2. Production and Economic Value I.2.1. Worldwide ProductionPersimmon is cultivated in many regions of the world, with increasing annual production. According to the FAOSTAT (2022) database, the worldwide persimmon production in 2021 was 4,332,166.55 t on 1,032,183 ha of cultivated area.The 2019 country ranking indicates that China is the largest producer, with a production of 3,286,620 t that year (Figure 2). Its production is based on a wide range of varieties (Guan et al., 2020;Perucho, 2019). The second most important producer is Spain, with 482,646 t in 2019, mainly centered on the 'Rojo Brillante' cultivar (PVA) in the Valencian Community (eastern Spain), and a minority of the Triumph cultivar (PVA) in Andalusia (southern Spain) (MAPA, 2023;Perucho, 2019). The third largest producer is South Korea, a country with a very long-standing persimmon growing tradition, with production of 258,874 t in 2019. The primary cultivar in this country is the non-astringent 'Fuyu'. Japan, whose persimmon production has continuously decreased in the last six decades, still is the fourth largest producer, with 208,200 t in the same year. Besides 'Fuyu', PVA cultivars 'Hiratanenashi' and 'Tonewase' are the main varieties cultivated in this country (Giordani, 2022). While China, S. Korea and Japan mainly produce processed persimmons, such as dried fruit, juice, teas and powders, Spanish production is marketed mainly as fresh fruit Suh and Kim, 2013).Azerbaijan, with a growing production, grew 177,129 t in 2019, centered mainly on local astringent varieties. Brazil's production is similar, with 167,721 t on a large production area, mainly used to grow local astringent cultivars, such as 'Rama Forte', 'Giombo' and 'Taubaté ' (Perucho et al., 2015). Most of the production in Brazil is destined to its domestic market. However, by having a harvesting season during a period when no fresh fruit is produced in Europe,