The other day I went to Trader Joe's. On the shopping list was some dried figs. Seeing all the pictures of lovely ripe figs here can be difficult at times. :)  But low and behold, they had packets of fresh 'California Dark' figs. Or something close to that. They were not missions, and too small for BTs, so they could have been anything. Probably some form of Celeste. But they were fresh, and I had them in-hand. They tasted fair, but better than nothing. Most were not totally ripe, but the soft ones were passable. Good enough for a fig-fix anyway. :)

The ones that were not up to snuff, I decided to slice and dehydrate. I was running the machine anyway, so in they went. I did not dry them all the way, so they need to remain in the fridge, but even these fair figs taste much better when half dehydrated. Much better than before drying in fact.

The plate is pretty small - maybe 5 inches in diameter.

Click on photo to enlarge.

Gina good for you something is better than nothing if they made you feel good.
Thanks for sharing that picture .

Today I was at grocery store called the Giant which is a local chain. I was surprised to see they  have packages of figs came from California. They were packed in plastic container 6 figs each one. They were selling at 4.99 per pound which is reasonable. Small but tasted very sweet. I bought 6 packs. In my zone 6 I have lots of figs and the trees still producing more. We are worried it may not have time left to ripen. A friend of mine told me he solved this problem where in October any unripened figs is cut as it is and he biols it and puts in jars with sweet syrup. He said last year his family loved it I take his word for it.

I just bought some dried Mission Figs at Trader Joe's and it was the first time I tried them. They were $3.99 and more expensive than the usual Turkish smyrna types  I find for a couple of dollars. I prefer the turrkish ones as they have more flavor even if the skin is thicker and are less sweet.  I will check for the fresh figs, $4.99 a pond seems a bit pricey. I was on vacation to see my family in Milan Italy and figs were about 2.5 to 4 euros per Kg ( about 2 lbs.) to 5 euros per Kg at fancier stores. They were imported from Puglia probably 700 Miles south. DO figs for sale in the USA come from California only?

California is the biggest producer of commercial figs. Figs at super market is just like fresh apricot the season is too short.
I agree 4.99 per pound is pricy but I am in Maryland and I am sure transportation cost is hefty. When I was in Los Angoles es last year I  bought figs at 2.99 per pound. I guess figs in cold Maryland follows the supply side economy.

Yeah - yet in Milan they were cheaper even if imported from 7/800 miles south (although it is not 3000 miles like NY - CA). 

I just bought some dried figs from turkey for $1.69 . I like them so much better than TJ's' Black Mission figs that were $3.99 and too sweet and earthy tasting. The Turkish have a coarser skin, and crunchier / larger seeds. I can eat a lot more than the California ones.

But I found the same for Dates too. I love the Jordanian dates I find here at Sahadi's. They are half the price of the California Dates I can buy at the same store. The California dates are too sweet and you taste the sugar too much. The Jordanian are a bit harder and have pits but taste a lot more natural. In Montreal I had found great dates from Iran and were as well so cheap. California dried fruits seem to me too sweet in general and twice as expensive than what is imported from the Mediterranean region that is way more distant and is subject to import duties etc.