There is a growing appetite for New Zealand’s rarest and most unusual fruit. 

Persimmons have had a 20% rise in exports in the last year, and demand has never been higher. 

Persimmon Industry Council Manager Ian Turk told Mike Hosking it's thanks to recent sunny weather in Gisborne, where the vast majority of the fruit is grown. 

He says after a rough five years for the industry —with impacts from the likes of Cyclone Gabrielle— growers are looking forward to a good season ahead. 

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