Also, they can creep along the ground and form stout shrubs in more open, dry, exposed sites. The Chinese collected the fruit from the wild for thousands of years, but never domesticated the plant. Botanists who visited China around the turn of the century introduced seeds into Europe, the US, and New Zealand. However, commercial cultivation began first in New Zealand around 1930. The success of the New Zealand industry, especially since 1960, sparked interest in France, Italy, California, Chile, and Japan, where it is now grown commercially.
Plantings also exist in Greece and Australia, among other countries.
The California industry developed during the 1970's, and is stabilizing at 8000-10,000 acres. Folklore, medicinal and non-food uses. Production statistics A. World - 1987 data. B. United States - Very few commercial plantings outside of California. Trunks may become 8 inches in diameter in mature plantings.