Spain presents the greatest and fastest increase of persimmon production among the Mediterranean countries. Twenty years ago, persimmon trees were grown along the Mediterranean areas as isolated trees in gardens and family orchards or in small plantings destined for local consumption. Although persimmon fruits were greatly appreciated in local markets, the astringency of fruits from all the varieties grown in Spain has limited the culture. The selection of cultivar 'Rojo Brillante' with outstanding quality and the application of the technique for removing astringency without losing fruit firmness allowed the expansion of the culture in the 1990s, especially in the area of Ribera del X quer in the Valencia province. Currently Spanish production is estimated in 70,000 tons distributed as following: in Valencia province, 55,000 tons of 'Rojo Brillante' and 2,000 tons of 'Sharon'; in Andaluc a, 10,000 tons of 'Sharon' and 3,000 tons of 'Rojo Brillante', most of them in the Huelva province.
