I'm gonna be taking a vacation to the LA/Orange area next month and was just wondering, since my dad and I are both fig enthusiasts, if there are any destinations around that we can see a lot of fig trees, without necessarily driving down to Encanto or UC Davis.. 

While we're at it, also looking for citrus groves or anything like that as well. : )

Anyone have any input?

Thanks!

Evan

UC Riverside!

http://www.citrusvariety.ucr.edu/

I do not know any orchad around LA but Googling got me this page:
http://www.pickyourown.org/CA.htm

Try to search as well.
If you find a good place or visit some, please post them over here, I would be interested too.

Thanks guys

Most of the fig orchards are in the Fresno area, quite a bit north of LA.

Sue is correct.  In my new town and about 50 miles surround, it's really hard to even find one fig tree in someone's yard.  Not like back east where Greeks and Italians settled and brought cuttings from home.  Here, our immigrants come from Mexico, work for the dairy farms and citrus orchards, and I don't think they are into figs that much.  Maybe some are, but we don't even have a Greek restaurant in this town.  There is one family owned Italian.  All the rest are chains.  Sigh.  I'm the fig lady in this town!!  They just don't know it yet!  LOL! 

Suzi

Sue -- maybe we should visit your place! ; )

Thanks for the input. Yea, I'm actually a young Greek American from Long Island, so I know exactly what you mean.

You mentioned LA and Orange County.  Sue is in San Diego County kinda close to Encanto, and I am in Riverside on county land, an hour and a half south-east of Orange County (if there is no traffic)!  Hey!  You would be welcome, but you'd have more fun in 3 years after the in ground figs start producing!  Every fig I own has figs, but who knows when they ripen, and can I beat the birds to them?  That is the question!  We have many birds, but the worst are those blackbirds that soar with their big hungry beaks! 

Suzi

: ). Thanks for the offer.

I'm jealous of you guys for sure. I'm trying to make figs happen in Colorado. Hey, the challenges are what keeps us going, right?

There is one commercial orchard that I know of in Valley Center, and one just planted this spring between Fallbrook and Temecula. There is also an orchard somewhere in the desert, but do not have details. Commercial production is mostly near Madera in the Central alley.

Sue and Jon are correct, the Central Valley is fig country.  A trip to Madera, 4 hour drive north from Los Angeles, will not disappoint, if it's fig orchards you want to see.  An advance call to California Specialty Crop Co. just may get you a personal tour of one of their ranches.

There is also this one in Malibu: http://vitalzumanfarm.com
You call them and find out what is available in terms of a tour.