A Japanese Catholic from Fukushima Prefecture plans to introduce local special persimmons to Pope Francis during his visit to Japan. Chuichi Ozawa from Koriyama next week received an audience with the pontiff.
As a member of the Koriyama Catholic Church, Ozawa supported people affected by the 2011 earthquake. Chuichi Ozawa suggested introducing Aizu Mishiraza, a Roman persimmon, to Pope to dispel concerns about the safety of Fukushima products as a result of the accident. The Vatican Embassy in Tokyo has accepted this offer.
In the world there are more than 1500 varieties of persimmons.
Persimmon is known for its creamy texture and refreshing sweetness. On Thursday, Ozawa visited a farmer in the Aizu region and received over 50 of the best persimmons specially selected for their color and beauty.
A bold farmer plans to bring fruit to the embassy in the coming days. Ozawa says that if Papa eats persimmons, it will cheer up all Fukushima farmers.
For information, the culture of consumption of persimmons came from China, where this berry was first tasted. Travelers began to take a curiosity with them, to bring her home. But persimmon has not conquered Europe because of the characteristic astringent taste.
- In the village of Kholmovets, Transcarpathian region, breeder Mikhail Zeldi is engaged in the cultivation of more than one hundred varieties of persimmons adapted to Ukrainian climatic conditions.
- In the Chortkivsky district of the Ternopil region, farmer Ivan Merlavsky grows many different varieties of persimmons brought from afar.
- An unrealistic breakthrough in the world of selection for persimmon cultivation was made by Kherson farmers - the dean of the Kherson Agrarian University and his family.
