“The first container of persimmons from Israel for the season is out on the ocean and on its way to the US,” says Gary Tozzo with MOR USA. It will arrive in the port of Newark, New Jersey on November 14, so the fruit should be available as of Friday the 18th.
Mid-November through March
Persimmons from Israel are available from mid-November until the end of March. In an average season, MOR USA brings in between 80 and 120 containers. “Last year, we hardly received any persimmons due to weather-related damage, but according to estimates, we should get close to 120 containers this season.
“I have not seen the fruit yet, but I have heard that quality is excellent. It is hard to comment on quality until you’ve put your eyes and hands on it, but we have been doing this for a long time and our mother company, MOR International in Israel knows what we expect,” mentioned Tozzo. MOR USA has been importing persimmons from Israel since 2000.
Joe American is not familiar with persimmons
MOR markets persimmons worldwide. “We used to ship a lot from Israel to Europe, but the European market is not as strong as it used to be. Spain has taken a bite out of the market,” shared Tozzo. “That results in more product available for the US market.” In the US, the fruit is still a specialty item. The ethnic population is familiar with it, but the average American has no idea what it is. Initiatives like consumer education and store sampling are going to play an important role in making persimmons more mainstream.
Brix level of 21
The persimmon from Israel is a conventional Triumph variety that is very sweet, with a Brix level of about 21, 22. MOR USA offers persimmons to North America’s retailers in two types of packaging. The first option is a 2.2 kg (4.85 lb.) single layer box, with stickers on each individual piece of fruit. The second package is a 2 lb. basket with a handle. A consumer pack contains 9 baskets in a master piece. Both types of packaging are available at mainstream retailers as well as high-end grocery stores. “A selection of retailers that we supply includes: Wegmans, Meijer, Harris Teeter, H Mart as well as oriental stores,” said Tozzo.
