The South Coast Research and Extension Center opened it gates to invited guests, the California Rare Fruit Growers Association and the UCCE Master Gardeners on Friday, November 20, 2015. Attendees were treated to the annual persimmon taste testing held at the South Coast REC in Irvine. Of the approximately (53) guests, 43 participated in a blind tasting and evaluation of the persimmon fruits grown at the Center. Evaluators were asked to rate the 12 varieties using a basic one to five scale based on attractiveness, astringency, sugar, flavor and overall performance.                 

Persimmoncultivars are classified in relation to fruit astringency at harvest: Pollination Constant Non Astringent (PCNA), Pollination Variant Non Astringent (PVNA), Pollination Variant Astringent (PVA) and Pollination Constant Astringent (PCA). The varieties that were evaluated during the tasting included CaliforniaFuyu (PCNA),Gosho (PCNA), OCFuyu (PCNA),Imoto (PCNA),MatsumotoWase (PCNA),MeakawaJiro (PCNA),Hyakume (PVNA), TrueFuyu (PCNA),Trible (PVNA),Jiro (PCNA),Kurakuma (PCNA), andNishimuraWase (PVNA).New to this year's tasting, Kurakuma, which did fairly well among those participating in the evaluation along with Meakawa Jiro, while Gosho proved to be the least liked.

The persimmon collection at the Center contains various cultivars that are not widely available and are sought after by avid fans of this fruit. Participants, young and old alike, expressed their excitment for the opportunity to sample the various varieties not commonly available in the marketplace and to learn more about this fall gem from knowledgeable volunteers who assist in maintaining the Center's collection. A special treat was learning about Hoshigaki - a Japanese technique of preserving persimmons by peeling and drying them whole over a period of several weeks through a combination of hanging and delicate hand-massaging, until the sugars contained in the fruit form a delicate surface with a dusting that looks like frost - very tasty.

Many thanks to the staff, CA Rare Fruit Growers, OC Chapter; UCCE Master Food Preservers and Master Gardener volunteers who helped with the slicing, setup, facilitating, and clean up. Very special acknowledgment to Isabel Barkman and the volunteers who assist with our orchards year round for their hard work harvesting, labeling, and preparing the persimmons for the event.

Following the event, over 500 pounds of the harvested fruit was donated to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County to feed the hungry.