California figs make up the majority of figs grown in the United States, due to the preferential weather and environmental conditions (similar to most other crops). There are eight main fig cultivars grown commercially for the fresh market in California. They are not always labeled by their cultivar name, but if you are interested in learning more about the different flavor characteristics of each type, keep reading!
Table of Contents
What type of figs are grown in California?
- Black Mission
- Brown Turkey
- Calimyrna
- Kadota
- Sequoia
- Sierra
- Tiger (Panachee)
- Tina
California Fig Cultivar Sensory Descriptors
I have included the specific sensory descriptors for each cultivar below. For my Master’s project, I had a trained sensory panel for both fresh and dried figs and these were the factors they determined.
You can click here if you are interested in learning more about how the sensory descriptors were determined or how a trained panel works.
What type of figs make up the dark and light dried figs?
- Dark (black/purple) – These figs are the dried Black Mission cultivar. You can also find paste that is dark, but that can be a mixture of multiple cultivars (such as the paste that is found within a Fig Newton and other fig bars).
- Light (tan/brown) – These figs are a mixture of the different green cultivars dried. As the green figs dry, they turn to the tan color that you are used to seeing.
Where are figs grown commercially in California?
Figs are grown in California’s Central Valley. All of the major growing areas tend to circulate around Madera, California.
When are figs in season in California?
There is an initial crop (the Breba crop), where the fruit grows off the wood from last season, and those fruits are available around June. Then, the main crop, which grows off of the new wood for the year, is available between August and September (but can extend all the way until December!).
Dried figs are available year-round! Make sure you check the label on the package to see where they are grown because you will commonly find dried figs grown in Turkey and other countries.
Where can I buy figs from California growers?
Fresh figs are not for sale at all grocery stores when they are in season. This season, I have only seen them available at Costco and Trader Joe’s, so it is important for you to ask the produce manager at your grocery store to order some in if you are interested in purchasing and consuming them. They are also most likely being displayed in the refrigerated section to help prolong the shelf-life.
Can I buy fresh figs directly from California growers?
There is public contact information for fresh and dried fig growers and processors that you can find on the California Figs website.
If you are interested in learning more about the harvesting and packing processes for fresh and dried figs, you can check out the following posts:
If you enjoyed this post, please share it!
Megan:
As you know I have lots of fig trees. I have started freezing them whole without treatment and they maintain their quality just fine. I also make fig leather by grinding the figs and putting them on trays in my dryer. I also dry the figs whole after cooking them. All maintain their quality for a year in my freezer. I am just finishing last year’s dried figs. A fig (or more) a day is magical!
Tom
I just love eating figs. My grandson when he was little called them candy. I have made fig & walnut jam, delicious 😋
Tina spelling is incorrect it is Tena…….developed by Ira Condit at University of California, Davis.
Hello Megan
I travel around the central valley in California, and I have been collecting cuttings from all the fig trees that I run across. Just like yesterday, 8/12/22, I found a clump of fig trees on the side of the road. The figs were very good. A med size and very tasty. Today 8/13/22 I was driving to an irrigation store and found another that the fig was small, yellow and delicious.