The fig harvest is underway, and there’s a new variety hitting shelves this year. The Emerald fig — named after its green color, with creamy flesh and a taste similar to crème brulee — is the latest addition to California’s list of fig varieties, joining consumer favorites like Brown Turkey, Mission, Tiger, and Sierra.
California’s total production is expected to reach 10 million pounds by November, when the season wraps up. That’s a healthy harvest, which the California Fresh Fig Growers Association credits to a year of relatively mild weather events — without fires, drought, or extreme heat — and an increase in planted acres.
98% of America’s fresh figs and 100% of the country’s dried figs are grown here in California, on 9,300 acres clustered around the cities of Madera, Fresno, and Merced. The Central Valley’s dry conditions and warm temperatures are ideal conditions for the fruit, making California the world’s second-highest producer of figs. Only Turkey grows more.
If you’re a fig grower, remember to visit one of our FGS supply stores to pick up all essential items for your harvest. We’re fully stocked with everything you need, including orchard ladders, clippers, and protective gloves. Once the season slows down, give our irrigation department a call to talk about upgrading your drip irrigation system. In the meantime, happy harvesting!