The call came from Gene, “They’re ready, I just picked a hundred and there are at least 500 more”. I thought about the work ahead. It was early this year, mid November. Usually they weren’t ready til December. I like picking them but slicing and drying is a lot of work and messy if they are really ripe. Everyone loves the sweet orange chips. Andys Hachiya persimmon tree is huge, 40ft tall and loaded with orange sugar balls. Climbing the tree with a canvas bag in one hand and a Clipa in my pocket, I was ready this year. I had both hands free to pick and hang onto limbs since the Clipa was hanging the bag from a branch. My handy bag hanger made it easy to pick and gently collect the jelly fruit.
The Sugar Tree