South Korea ships first sweet persimmons to China after 17 years of talks

South Korea sent its first shipment of fresh sweet persimmons to China on Friday, opening a new market for growers after 17 years of plant quarantine negotiations. The shipment of 19.6 metric tons, packed in 1,960 boxes, left the Port of Busan and was expected to reach Shanghai on Nov. 10, South Korea’s Agriculture Ministry said. Local importers will distribute the fruit to upscale retailers, including City Super. Growers, exporters and government officials marked the shipment at the Dong-eup Ag