In Georgia, producers of fruits and fruit products have observed a subdued demand for persimmons within the local market, with a notable exception being the interest from tourists for dried persimmons. Gia Ghachava, operating in Gordi village, Imereti, has dedicated 15 years to producing dried fruits, including persimmons, under his enterprise "Gorduli" established in 2015. Ghachava highlighted the appeal of dried persimmons to foreigners, attributing the primary consumer base to tourists. Despite the current focus on the domestic market, Ghachava is contemplating the expansion of his product range to the Russian market, citing a stronger demand for Georgian products there compared to the European market, where higher export costs elevate the final product price.
Currently, a significant portion of Georgian persimmons, particularly from the Kakheti region, find their way to Russia, with the country being a major export destination. Ghachava himself has experimented with exporting a small batch of dried persimmons to Germany, aiming to gauge the market's reception. He leverages the regulation allowing the export of up to 150 kg of family-produced products to Europe without checks, viewing this as an opportunity to introduce Georgian dried fruits to new markets. Despite the challenges of higher selling prices in Europe, Ghachava believes in the potential of trading dried fruits for goods in demand from Russia, drawing on his decade-long experience living in Russia to navigate the market effectively.
The introduction of persimmons to Western Georgia traces back to the 19th century, originating from Italy, with the region also being home to the native Caucasian persimmon, underscoring the deep-rooted presence of this fruit in Georgian agriculture.
Source: Commersant