Make sure you ask the seller to demonstrate ,that the pixies of fruits are from his own garden in the said location.
This ,question is very important,unless you live in Central California where the climate is ideal for fig tree.
A Seller that sell a fig in New Jersey,but show pixies of fruits from Sicily,is nothing more nothing less than a Swindler.
The fig cultivar might never produce any fruits in New Jersey let alone produce those beautiful fruits that were made In Sicily,because ,those were created in a different country with an Ideal climate.
Do not be a victim and pay large amounts of money unless you are demonstrated the pixies are taken in his garden without the help of Greenhouse (Start up)eventually showing pixies of the fig in ground,garden and house here in the USA.
The value of any new importation of a cultivar is close to ,zero,until results ,excellent or bad can be shown ,by growers in this country,and once the trial results are promising,then yes the value of plant will grow and it deserves to grow,till the plant become abundant in this country and ,at that point the price of acquisition goes down abruptly which is normal.
Meanwhile the good cultivars remain in culture here while the cultivars that had shown bad results will disappear without a trace,but US gardening community win at the end.

Great point and well said, Mr. Herman. Thanks for looking out for us. Some figs thrive in one climate and perish in another.

Thank you again, Herman.  It's great to have someone like you in our corner looking out for us.

Thank you for the information Herman

The only fig purchases that I have made from the internet, have been from the Forum, I wouldn't touch any of those other "great offers" with a ten foot pole.  Your right Herman...lots of swindlers out there...thanks for the reminder.

One hypothesis I do have on offer is that many figs bear fruit that needs to be "sweated" to concentrate sugars and flavor as well as the plant could offer (in addition to not splitting).  High humidity prevents this from really happening, to the detriment of figs like Panachée and Tena in the humid SE.  Emerald Strawberrry might be the same way.  Moreover, dark fiends like Martin are that way because dark figs use the absorption of light and conversion to heat to assist in that process.  CdD Noir might do a bit better in those humid lowlands in La, Fl, and SC than it's striped cousin.  Then again, Black Madeira seems to fruit better in Ga and NC than it does in Fl.  Climatic factors are a real consideration given how plastic fig expression is.  Makes it that much more important to know what you have and label figs properly.  I don't know if pics from another place is that much of an issue.  People sell Black Mission and Panachée in the SE from Pike's and Home Depot when they are a pretty bad idea, so NJ fig guys selling inappropriate varieties isn't a very new problem, and the only solution is to encourage people to read about figs and get a good idea of what would do well where they are, buying from reliable nurserymen.

I've paid some "rich" prices for some things and think that most folks that have done so understand the risks but feel the chance for trying something new with potentially great prospects is worth the "gamble."  I've been known to buy a few lottery tickets in my life even though I know the odds are horrible enough to make spending even $1 on them is pretty silly.  The allure of something great is something that always tempting.  I know many folks who spend some pretty large sums of money for vacations, often doing the same thing they could do around their own home, with nothing left but photos and some memories when they return.  If I blow a few hundred bucks on some cuttings or plants and don't have much to show for it in a year or two, I'm not going to be very worried about it.  I think anyone that is going to be very upset if things don't work out, shouldn't be paying big money to begin with.  Buy a Brown Turkey instead since you will know what you're getting! ;)

I will also ask seller if he offers any guarantee or insurance on his trees and shipping. I receive some trees dead upon arrival that I pay good money for and seller never replay my email. BTW he had nice picture of his own tree.

Gina, there's not a fig auction gone by in a few months that I haven't looked at.  When reference is made to some of the new imports such as:

I have always grown the Said plant first,got ripe fruits from it,Took pixies of ripe fruits ,from said cultivar ,here in the Backyard,and then ,grew plants or sold cuttings from the  said tree.
That is what I expect any honest person that sell plants should do.
It ensure that the plant will produce ripe fruits ,in climates like NJ,and if it does in New Jersey it will be a much better producing plant in other more suitable climates for fig.

good information Herman thank you............

"A Seller that sell a fig in New Jersey,
but show pixies of fruits from Sicily,
is nothing more nothing less than a Swindler.

The fig cultivar might never produce any fruits in New Jersey let alone produce those beautiful fruits that were made
In Sicily,because ,those were created in a different country with an Ideal climate."

I HAVE A QUESTION

I see a seller on ebay,
who lives in Pennsylvania selling fig
that comes from Spain,
and he is using picture of fruit that comes from Spain.

Do this warning apply in this situation also ?

Do we call this person a swindler as well ?
He illegally imports fig tree and sells cuttings in America
shows picture of fruit that is not his
and was not grown in this country either.
This is same actions as other bad characters on ebay.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/261178419723?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

I think this is person Herman2
is complaining about.

He sells many fig tree from other country
how is this possible ?

We are not allowed to do this,
why is this person
and why are people paying so much money
for improper items.

Robert, I don't think that's exactly the issue Herman is talking about.  Herman has sold varieties came from some of these sources (second hand, etc.).  Many people have paid big prices for Black Madeira which surely didn't come to the U.S. with an import permit.  People are paying prices knowing what they are buying and the uncertainties they are taking.  The analogy of a lottery ticket I made earlier is fairly reasonable - I've never know if one of these tickets was a winner or a loser when I bought it.  I don't believe any uninformed newbies are paying the high prices that Herman is warning about.  Herman is a reputable seller and a good member here, obviously, but I don't think this warning is productive.

Robert, you've registered just today and haven't made any introduction but seem pretty informed about things.  I can't help but wonder if you're a member that just created another ID to do some complaining.  Sorry if this comes across as an attack, I'm just expressing my thoughts like you.  Why not make an introduction?

So far Herman2 has not corrected my statement.

This leads me to believe what I posted is correct about this seller.

His silence speaks loudly in this case.

Nor has Herman corrected my statement.  The same seller introduced RdB and Herman acquired it and has sold that.  Seems mostly that the concern is about unproven new varieties that sell for high prices.

I'm not condoning imports not being done in compliance with regulations.  I'm not hired to police that.  Nearly all of the figs we have in the USA were brought into the USA at one time or another without following any quarantine requirements.  Black Mission certainly wasn't subjected to a quarantine.  The risk with figs seems pretty low compared to something like citrus.

Robert not sure if your implying that Herman is selling that fig in that link you posted but if you think it is i can say with certainty it is not Hermans listing.

Also what Harvey says holds true for probably most if not everyone including many nurseries that also sell figs as many going around were imported some legally and some not .

@ Robert68,
seller  you are asking about is treesofjoy,
he is member of this forum.
with a collection of many hundreds of trees in his yard from which to take cuttings.
that is how he sells cuttings from trees originating around the world.

LETS REVIEW

Herman2 made a post warning about certain sellers.

His example was:

Seller in in New Jersey
Fig is from Scicily
Seller does not use his own picture.
Seller has a green house to ripen fruit.


The seller Trees of Joy

Seller is in Pennslyvania
Fig is from Spain
Seller does not use his own picture.
Seller has a green house to ripen fruit.

The similarities are very obvious
and too obvious to ignore.

Herman2 must be reffering to this seller.

Either way,
according to Herman2
the actions above contistitue the actions of a swindler,
this ebay seller is doing exactly that,
just from different country,
which make zero difference.

A criminal is a criminal, bottom line.

This seller is harming the fig industry.

He puts US agriculture at risk.

He deters legal importers of plant material
from importing new fig varities.

Legal importers must adhere to strict quarantine rules
hold plants for 2-3 years before they can be sold.

Why would a nursery invest this time and money to bring
new varieties to market for the public,
only to have their investment destroyed by an illegal importer.

Supporting a seller like this
only hurts the FIG INDUSTRY and FIG COLLECTORS.