In this episode of Fruit Love Letters, Jessamine Starr chats with:

• Laurence Hobin, co-owner of Penryn Orchard Specialties

• Tom Wirht and Laura Potts-Wirht, orchard owners in Glennville, Georgia

Persimmons: From Japan to California

• Laurence explains the origin of the orchard she maintains with her partner. and her partner’s orchard, originally owned by a man named George Oki

• Laurences discusses how the high population of Japanese people and their desire for familiar fruits are the reasons persimmons are largely grown in this California region.

• At Penryn Orchard Specialities, what makes their persimmons different from those found in the supermarket is seeds their persimmons contain. Most other orchards prevent the pollination process to create a seedless fruit.

• Laurence details the care persimmon fruit and trees require to maintain successful harvests

• Learn how to make a traditional Japanese treat, as Laurence explains the dehydration and massaging process to make hoshigaki with hachiya persimmons!

Growing Persimmons in Georgia 

• Laura shares her and her husband’s start in growing persimmon trees and even though 90% of persimmons in the US are grown in California, they also grow very well in the South.

• Tom describes the natural qualities of their land and soil that provide a good home for their trees. The only “downside” is that persimmons don’t grow as large in the South as they do in California.

• Laura finds that selling their persimmons at the local markets is the perfect opportunity to educate people on persimmons and its uniqueness. 

• Laura recounts a full-circle memory picking wild persimmons as a child with her family.

• Join Jessamine as she visits Laura and Tom’s orchard!