Traveling through California’s mid central valley (San Joaquin Valley) near Madera last week, I happened upon this huge fig operation.   Actually I was cruising down the highway and noticed a sudden change in trees.   Funny, even at 65 mph, the figs kinda jumped out in the miles of almond trees and vineyards.   Geesh, I have never seen so many figs!

Anyway, after a screeching stop, I pulled off the road to snap a few photos.  The larger trees are a Conadria type fig, which are allowed to ripen and dry on the tree for future harvest and processing.  The short stubby trees are a Kadota, which are harvested as they develop for the fresh fig market.  The Kadota’s almost appear to be a Bonsai and only about waist high.  This is all according to the gal answering the phone at the growers office (California Specialty Crop Company)   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Thanks for taking the time to post those wonderful pictures . ; )

Jack, where exactly in NOrth County are you?

Beautiful, beautiful fig tree " collection." I think many a fig enthusiast would be MORE than happy with just one (or two) trees of that size in their back garden. No snow, no frost, no sleet, freezing rain OR the fig shuffle. Thanks much for sharing with the group.

Great pics!  Thank you so much for sharing :) 

I keep debating whether I want to grow my figs in a japanese stepover style or bonsai Kadota style.  I love the look of those Kadota trees...

Jack those are awesome pics, thank you for your time.

I would've taken some cuttings too not just pics, ;/

Jack, there operation is headquartered in Madera.  Do they have figs near Merced also?  I know of a fig operation just slightly south of Merced also but figs have traditionally been grown in Madera County and some in Fresno County.

Thank you for sharing! The kadotas look awesome!

Very nice pictures. Thanks for sharing them.

I am delighted you guys enjoy the photos.  To be honest, before catching the fig bug, I would have driven by and never paid a thought to the trees.   I’m pleased to share the experience.

patriota……. If you are familiar with SD North County, I’m on the west side of Rancho Santa Fe.  Just a couple miles inland from the coast, which insures a mild climate.

Aron4USA…… I would've taken some cuttings too not just pics, ;/      Not me…!   That’s my story and I’m sticking to it…….. :-)

HarveyC………. My bad, this grove was indeed just outside of Madera.   A few miles east on Hwy 145 to be exact!   I drove up from San Diego to Yosemite a couple weeks before on old 99 and then crossed the valley again to Santa Cruz on the coast.  Then took took a few days cruising old Hyw 1 down the coast on they way home.  Needless to say I saw way too much farm and orchard land and easy to forget which little community you pass through.  Awfully beautiful country though!   I did call Specialty Crop office number posted on gate and had a nice chat with the gal who answered.  Think she said they were the largest fig producer in the state or USA.   Ranches in the San Joaquin and desert regions, if I remember correctly?   I see on their web site, that they are also ranch/farm managers, so she may have been including all customer operations too.  From the looks of this ranch, they must be a first class operation; it was beautiful and well maintained.  At least what you could see from the road!  Owning a few acres of producing lemons, I sort of have a good eye for well managed orchards

Nice pics! Man I gotta move to cali, I'm getting hit with sleet as we speak.

Bosco, from what I recall when viewing their site last year, they claim to be the largest fig farmers in the world with something like 10,000 acres owned and managed.  There is a link to an article in some thread from last year about them growing 160 acres of Panache.  Several people around the country tried those Panache sold at Whole Foods and enjoyed them.  Reports were quite positive.

Bosco, thanks for sharing.

Well, that is some serious fig trees! Bosco, I am delighted to see and thank you for your time to snap the pictures to share... that Kadota likes 'drastic pruning', and what a serious pruning that is, huh?   It follows the diagrams I have been ready 3 years to form that shape and production after... very nice.