North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[martha_davis@highstream.net]

I have found that american persimmons can be after ripened as well.  You can't
just put them on the windowsill like the Kaki, and I suspect you can't pick
them as under ripe, but it can be done.  Pick them firm ripe showing at mostly
to competely change of color from,green to orange.  Then package them in a
paper lunch bag 5-10 per bag works.  When I tried this with a variety of 
plants
from Jim Clypools orchard most ripened nicely in about a week.  I would not
reccomend any fewer fruit per bag though I suspect more is fine.  I think that
with unripe american persimmon fruit is that they don't get enough ethylene to
ripen the rest of the way before they dehydrate.  I think the bag concentrates
the ethelene and prevent dehydration.  It doesn't work well with only one or
two fruit.

Martha