Last year only a handful of persimmons were picked in Strunjan; it was the consequence of hail, and rainy summer. This year the situation is completely different. Franco Giassi, one of the larger persimmon growers, harvested approximately 40 tons of persimmons in his orchard spreading on more than two hectares of land. It is his record harvest, both regarding the quantity and the quality of fruit. "Fruit is just right; there was not too much rain, nor there was draught – ideal weather for persimmons," he explained.

Silvano Knez is also very satisfied with the harvest. He said the fruit is very healthy and well formed, and undamaged. Luckily, fruit fly didn't develop. "We are ecological producers; we don't spray, and we use only prescribed manure. We grow mainly the 'tipo' variety, which is our old variety, and 'rojo brillante' and 'hachiya'," he added.

Persimmon fruit from Strunjan will be most certainly for sale next week, at the Persimmon holiday, which has been organized by the locals for fifteen consecutive years.

T. L. (Ra Koper), translated by G. K.