How Japanese Farmers Harvest the World's Most Expensive Persimmon | Farming Documentary

In Japan, persimmons are not only a favorite food but also a long-standing cultural symbol. Every autumn, persimmon trees laden with fruit begin to gradually change from green to bright orange, looking extremely attractive. With a characteristic sweet taste and smooth texture, Japanese persimmons are always highly appreciated for their quality. So how does the process of growing and harvesting these expensive persimmons take place? All will be revealed in today's video. The journey of a persimmon begins long before the fruit appears on the tree. Persimmon trees are perennials, meaning they can live for many years and produce fruit continuously throughout the season. This process begins in early spring, around March, when the tree begins to bud. During the winter months, dead or dying branches are carefully pruned away. This step is important because it ensures that the tree can focus its energy on the healthy branches, promoting vigorous growth. Smaller branches are also pruned away, leaving only the strongest branches to grow further. Once the buds have matured into branches, the next stage begins, pruning. Pruning is an important practice in rose growing as it helps control the growth of the tree and promotes fruit production. By selectively removing certain branches, farmers ensure that the tree is not overcrowded, allowing the remaining branches to receive more sunlight and nutrients, which directly affects the quality of the fruit. By May, the tree begins to bloom with small white flowers appearing, an encouraging sign that fruit will soon follow. During this time, it is important that farmers keep a close eye on the trees, ensuring that they receive enough water and nutrients to support fruit development. As the summer heat sets in, the persimmons begin to develop and ripen. This stage is especially important as the fruit needs to be protected from pests and diseases. Farmers use a variety of organic and traditional methods to protect the persimmons, carrying out regular inspections to detect any early signs of problems. Their proactive approach helps maintain high-quality fruit, which is important because of the market value of persimmons. After months of care, the trees are finally full of ripe persimmons, ready to be picked. Harvesting is a delicate process that requires careful attention. Persimmons are hand-picked to ensure that each fruit is handled with care, preserving its integrity, which is important for both fresh consumption and the drying process. Each persimmon is inspected for ripeness, and only the best are selected for harvest. While fresh persimmons are delicious, the real art of processing persimmons lies in the traditional drying process, turning them into hoshigaki, a dried version of the fruit that has become a delicacy in Japan. Making hoshigaki is an art form that requires skill and patience. After harvesting the persimmons, the fruit is carefully peeled, leaving a small portion of the stem intact. This stem is essential for the drying process, as it allows the persimmons to hang on drying racks. The next step is peeling the persimmons, a job that requires precision and expertise. The goal is to remove the skin without damaging the fruit, preserving its shape and integrity. Once peeled, the persimmons are hung on drying racks, where they dry naturally in the sun and wind. In some cases, fans are used to aid the drying process. Over the next few weeks, the persimmons will slowly lose moisture, concentrate their sweetness, and develop their unique texture and flavor. During the drying process, it is important to regularly massage the persimmons. This technique helps break down the fibers inside the fruit, and ensures that the persimmons dry evenly. The traditional method requires a lot of work, but it is essential to achieve the desired texture and flavor of the dried persimmons. After weeks of drying and massaging, the result is a beautifully dried persimmon, a Japanese delicacy known for its rich flavor and chewy texture. Hoshigaki is more than just a treat for the palate. It's the product of dedication and expertise passed down through generations. Once the drying process is complete, the persimmons are carefully packaged, often wrapped in traditional materials that reflect their cultural significance. In 2024, a box of 12 premium persimmons could cost as much as $450. No small price to pay, but well worth the experience. Each dried persimmon is a testament to the hard work and meticulous care that goes into producing this exquisite fruit. The journey of the persimmon from tree to table is truly fascinating. It is a journey of care, precision, and tradition, and it highlights the deep connection between farmer and land. As we continue to explore the art of persimmon cultivation, we invite you to join us in appreciating this unique and valuable fruit. Whether enjoyed fresh or dried, persimmons represent the dedication and artistry of Japanese farming, bringing nature's finest flavors to every dollar. Thank you for joining us on this journey into the world of persimmons. If you enjoyed this video, be sure to like and subscribe for more insights into the fascinating world of agriculture and traditional foods. Stay tuned for our next episode as we continue to explore the rich heritage of Japanese agriculture and the wonderful fruits it produces. Welcome back to our channel. Today we're diving into the beautiful world of canola plants, not only admiring the brilliance of golden fields, but also exploring canola's vital role in global agriculture. Canola provides a valuable resource across various industries, from cooking oil and biofuel to animal feed. In this video, we'll take you through the journey from seed planting to harvest and oil processing. The journey starts with cultivating rapeseed, which thrives in temperate climates and is a popular choice in countries like Canada, Germany, and France, where ideal weather conditions prevail. Modern machinery plays an essential role in the rapeseed farming process, helping farmers prepare the soil efficiently and plant seeds with precision. Initially, plows and tillers are used to loosen the soil, ensuring the necessary aeration and fertility for optimal crop growth. Following this, an automated seeding system takes over, placing seeds in the soil at carefully calculated distances and depths. With the support of technology, rapeseed planting becomes faster, more consistent, and provides ideal conditions for vigorous early growth. Approximately four to seven days after planting, the rapeseed sprout and the first leaves appear, marking the beginning of the plant's growth phase. The development process of rapeseed plants requires meticulous management. Farmers monitor the plants closely, ensuring they receive adequate water and nutrients while managing pest risks. This approach not only protects the plants, but also aligns with environmentally friendly practices by minimizing chemical use. Careful attention from planting to maturity is essential to maintain the quality that rapeseed products demand. As spring arrives, rapeseed fields become a sea of vibrant yellow flowers. These blooms are not only visually striking, but also crucial for the next stage in the plant's life cycle. Pollination occurs during this phase, supported by bees and other insects. This process leads to the formation of pods containing precious rapeseed. Rapeseed is typically harvested at the end of summer, when the seed moisture content reaches around eight to ten percent. By this time, the plants turn a pale yellow most leaves have fallen, and the stems and pods are drier, signaling readiness for harvest. Through careful observation and timely selection, farmers can harvest high-quality rapeseed, yielding products with optimal nutritional and economic value. Rapeseed harvesting is now primarily conducted using specialized machinery known as combined harvesters, equipped with specially designed cutting heads to handle rapeseed plants gently, minimizing seed spillage. The machine cuts the entire plant and moves it into the internal processing system, where the seeds are quickly separated from the pods and collected, while the remaining plant material is spread evenly over the soil surface. This residue can be returned to the soil to improve fertility for the next crop season. In recent years, rapeseed production has reached impressive figures. As of 2023, Canada remains the leading producer, supplying nearly 20 million tons annually. The global importance of this crop continues to rise, especially as demand for biofuels grows. The rapeseed oil production process begins with seed cleaning. The raw rapeseed contains various impurities, so it first passes through vibrating machines to filter out foreign particles, followed by a magnetic system to remove any potential metal fragments. This ensures that only quality seeds proceed to the next stages of processing. Next, the rapeseed is fed into a roller mill to crush it into small fragments. After crushing, the rapeseed undergoes pressing to extract the oil. The remaining pressed residue, known as rapeseed cake, can be sold as animal feed or used as a unique ingredient in innovative alternative dishes. The extracted oil then moves into large storage tanks for storage and refining. During refining, high-speed rotating tanks remove impurities from the oil. These impurities are then repurposed and sold to soap manufacturers, an interesting and often unexpected application. Finally, the oil undergoes a light inspection to ensure no foreign substances remain. This step is essential to guarantee the quality and clarity of the oil, eliminating any risks to its purity. As the world continues to search for sustainable solutions, canola emerges as a promising option. From providing a nutritious cooking oil to its use in biofuel production, this versatile crop brings countless benefits. With advances in agricultural technology, the future of canola farming holds bright prospects and significant potential for growth. Thank you for joining us on this journey into the world of canola farming. We hope this video has expanded your understanding of cultivating, harvesting, and processing this remarkable crop. Don't forget to subscribe to our channel and stay tuned for our next video where we'll explore more fascinating aspects of modern agriculture. See you next time.