I have been selling fig trees now for 4 years and I have learned a few things that I believe are noteworthy. The basics, I sell mostly at Farmer's Markets around Northeast Texas and the Shreveport metropolitan area and sell from my home. I have sold just under 500 trees over the period.

1) Other than Celeste and Brown Turkey I have never been asked for a specific tree
2) 3 gal size trees sell better than any other size, followed by 1 gal.
3) Most people want a tree so they can make Fig Preserves.
4) Most tell me about their Grandmother's tree (4 to 1 compared to Grandfather's).
5) Most people do not know there are so many different types/cultivars of fig trees.
6) Most people cannot tell you what color the inside of a fig is, any fig.
7) Most prople have never seen a Green colored fig, a few have seen Yellow ones.
8) Most people put the new tree in the ground and drown it.
9) Most people cannot tell you what the leaf on their tree looks like.
10) Most people think Strawberries and figs together make the best Jelly/Jam/Preserves.
11) Most people do not know any other way to eat figs other than fresh or preserves.
12) Most Louisiana people have never heard about the LSU Fig program, or care.
13) Most people don't have a clue when a fig should be picked.
14) No one has ever told me how much fig trees are at Walmart/Lowe's/Home Depot.

These thoughts are based on people I have met at the Farmer's Market, Flea Market, or my back yard, and are unsolicited.

Just saying.

I'm glad you said that.  And it's the same here.

If I tried to sell any fig tree for more than the local nurseries  (typically local nurseries charge slightly more than big box) they would look at me like I had two heads :), no matter its name/ variety.

Ponte Tresa. ha, whats that? you want 60(+) dollars for a one gallon fig, you must be crazy!

I'm trying to look at it as a good thing.  Newness in itself is good trait to have.  It also means the market still has a lot of growing potential (pun intended).

Markets are developed, they don't just happen, if they do, someone else beat you to it.

The one advantage we have over the nurserys or the Box stores is that we know what we are talking about, generally they don't.  The key is "value added" what are the differences?, why buy mine? the story sells the product, when you have ignorant customers, educate them.

I wouldn't even try to sell a Ponte Tresa, if someone ever asks, I will get them one, chances are slim they would ever ask.  By the time I get one, they will be replaced with another new "shiny" object (Tree)  Since I have playing with figs it has been Sal's El, RDB, Ponte Tresa, BB10, Several Spanish cultivars, Panachee, and a few others that I have forgotten.

This is a fun thing to do and you can make a little money at it but you will make a lot more money selling Celeste and BT trees than you will with the exotics/premiums.

Dkirtexas,

Excellent observation - thanks for passing the knowledge on.   I have found essentially the same here in Cary, NC.

Tad

Yep. They say " i thought a fig tree is just that. No other variety. BUT ITS TRUE. STRAWBERRY FIG JELLY IS THE BOMB. SECOND IS BLACKBERRY FIG JELLY. AND COMING IN LAST PLACE IS PLAIN FIG JELLY. I KNOW. THATS NOT GOOD TO SAY OUT LOUD. LOL. BUT YOU ARE SPOT ON WITH YOUR LIST.

Danny, that is an interesting list.  If it wasn't for the internet I would not know much about all the varieties of figs.  People that I sell trees to locally want one that will do good in this area.  Many talk about eating fig preserves at their grandparent's house when they were young.  I sell mostly Celeste that I started from cuttings from an old family tree.  I've grown it for over 25 years and I can vouch for it doing well here.

How much do you get locally for Celeste and brown turkey, if I might ask? Both 1 & 3 gallon.

you posts are always interesting, danny. 

I prefer my whiskey straight as I do my fig preserves.  Actually, I don't drink but I do like my preserves plain fig.

I wish I had a dollar for every person who made the comment:
"I didn't know fig trees could grow HERE (in the cool, rainy Pacific
NW).
According to my coastal denizens,
- a Desert King is a ruler of a mid-eastern nation,
- Lattarula is something you order at a high end Italian restaurant, 
- a Brown Turkey is what hunters shoot, etc.
Ya git me drift, fig brothers? (hehehe)

Great Post Danny! What I really do remember is when I was a little boy, my Grandmother, really did have a Fig Tree in her front yard. I was so scared of going around the tree because of all the wasp and bees.My brother and I would run and grab a Fig so we wouldn't get stung. That was around 55 years ago and I am still putting up with the wasp and bees. : )

Over the last 5 years I have been selling fig trees at a couple of big street fairs, a fig fest or two and through a local nursery. I have sold many trees on eBay but only a few in the last couple of years. I've probably sold close to 200 trees at one really big street fair in  New York over the last 4 years and not one person has ever asked what variety it is before purchasing one. Some are somewhat versed in dark or light, but that is it. I sell a good amount of dark Italian figs, but there are many people who only know green figs. Price is more an issue than variety. 
I have lost track of how many people wax poetic about their grandfather or uncles tree. There are many who had a friend who had a tree in their yard and all these stories are told with a big smile attached.
The trees have real meanings for most of the people who buy one. For many its a wonderful bridge to their past
I can't think of a better reason to sell them.

Well that's so true Danny,,in south Louisiana too. Glad to read your well put 14 points..Yesterday I loaded the truck up with 3-5 gallon, and 1 gallon,, 20 varieties. Bayou Some Stuff trade day in Sunset. LSU fans seldom buy TAMU alma and they never buy Alabama bred figs..lol.. people don't care about the name or size of the fig,,,some returning customers wish they would have labeled, remembered previous purchase! They just want sweet and non splitting. Always have a few experts voice out loudly,," there is ONLY one good fig in the world." I priced the 5 gallon Celeste at $10 and all the other 3-5 gallon at $20.. buy 2 get a 1 gallon free moves volume.. people want abundance of pretty leaves and or height. Copies of the LSU fig evaluation were available for a buying guide. didn't sell many Celeste . when asked the name of grandma's fig, the husband and wife would disagree on its colors, and pictures..lol... it's always a lot of fun making new friends sharing a passion for figs.. recipes shared,, fig tarts or fig cake try adding a bit of your favorite liqueur. ,?? creme de coco . Great in persimmon baking also.

One last note that I forgot to bring up. If a tree had  figs on it, that would  really seal the deal. Most people love to see a cute little fig coming out, and would buy a small tree with fruit on it over a beautiful growing tree that is just starting to fig out and will be killer in a year or two. I can  recommend what I feel will be a better tree in the future, but the little one with the fig on it usually wins

Coop... you are so right... strong visual feedback in the form of actively growing figs will always seal the deal over what most folks would consider promises for future delivery...