Commercial fig growers in the South?

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tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448784290	Reply with quote #1

I was wondering if there are any large scale fig growers on here who are located in the Southern states but preferably those in my zone 7a? If so I would be interested to know the varieties you believe are best suited for your purposes and if you would please give some reasons. Also could you explain your ideas of protecting plants in a large plantation during the winter? I'm new here and very eager to learn from others. __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1448803999	Reply with quote #2

I don't personally know of any but I plan to be one. We're pretty much the same zone and will say cold hardy varieties, ones that are known to survive here multiple years with minimal protection. You can see the ones I have located in my area at my website http://www.figsfortsmith.com Have found some rather unexpected, very large trees locally that have survived here many years without ANY protection. Two of them on your wish list. I believe they have survived because while young, they had milder winters and developed a nice woody bark and good size which has protected them during the last few years of polar blasts. As far as protecting a large plantation during winter, at least until they develop woody bark, I would simply make individual tree cages and fill them with hay, straw, leaves, whatever can be obtained locally with the least expense. Protect the trunk and not so much worry about the limbs. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

dkirtexas

Registered:1341345900
Posts: 1,332

Posted 1448806622 · Edited	Reply with quote #3

As I understand it, there are three markets for figs, those being, Dried, Fresh, and U-pick. The dried requires a significant investment in facility and processing equipment with a relatively high labor cost. The fresh requires a special marketing effort, a constant picking and packing labor force. The U-pick has the lowest recurring costs but also has the lowest return on investment with the loss of figs, and damage to the trees. In all three cases a significant maintenance effort is required and doing it by yourself has extremely limited opportunity for success. There were a couple of thriving commercial fig production operations in southeastern Texas, being located in the Houston to Corpus Christie corridor, all of which have long since ceased operations. California is the leader in fig production and the majority of the operations are related to dried figs. You can find a lot of information online about these operations and there are a couple of organized associations and Co-ops. I have chosen to grow and sell a few trees and even fewer fresh figs which I have sold at local Farmers' Markets and Flea Markets ($5-$7lb). I do not "make" any money but it pays for my hobby, including a couple of trips a year to visit other figsters or LSU Orchard at Baton Rouge. This dissertation is my opinion based on my "research" and modified by a failing memory. I am not interested in a debate on any of my points. I have looked and these points are a summary of my look. If you want to do it, go for it and good luck. __________________ Thx, glad to be here Danny K "EL CAZADOR DE HIGO" Waskom Tx Zone 7B/8 Wish list: anything anyone wants me to have. LSU RED. Any LSU fig.

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1448808290	Reply with quote #4

Good post Danny. As for me personally, the U-Pick would be my choice and "scale" being large or small is debatable. Large to me would be a few acres since all I've ever had is a back yard. I will probably always have a personal collection of potted fig varieties. For the commercial side I'm going to start with Hardy Chicago. For one, it's a delicious, berry tasting fig. If you don't have figs people like, they won't pick em! It's known cold hardy, good grower and producer. All that and I'm fortunate enough to have found a very large tree and the owner is giving me all the limbs. We made a deal he gets back a portion of the trees I'm able to propagate from them. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

hoosierbanana

Registered:1287901146
Posts: 2,186

Posted 1448810437 · Edited	Reply with quote #5

Having a market is the most important thing. Fresh figs that are picked tree ripe only keep for 1-3 days, so either you sell them fast or pick them under-ripe and get no return business. Selling them as a fresh/raw product is the only way to do it without getting permits, or having a certified kitchen. To process them you need a certified kitchen, so selling them frozen and making jams etc. is a no-no. Although you can save figs by freezing them until you have enough for a batch and take them to a processor to have a product made. Trees are better money, if you are selling fresh figs then have some trees there also. __________________ 7a, DE

brianm

Registered:1389664758
Posts: 971

Posted 1448816469	Reply with quote #6

You can do it Charlie! Figs are getting popular again there is definitely a market. I won't get into details but healthy delicious fruits especially figs can be marketed to the younger generation. Many have never tasted a fresh fig. Good luck! __________________ Wish list: Galicia Negra,UC Davis Black Ischia, Maltese Raven

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448819976	Reply with quote #7

Our economic machine is on the verge of collapse. The industrial revolution destroyed our basic concept of food and survival. All this combined with an obvious food crisis and gmo foods, poisonous pest control and fertilizers and this age of information and awareness brings us to a time when the local, "small scale" farmer has a real opportunity with his local community to be a positive change in their lives and reap financial gratification to a small or large degree. I was wondering about commercial sized grow ops because it seems there should at least be a few in the South. I know that California is the place for figs but I don't agree that it has to be that way. In California they grow lots of figs but they concentrate their large scale efforts towards particular strains like Kadota. The South could grow a commercial fig that can compete for sure and in the days ahead all local foods will be larger competitors than they have been in the past few decades. My interest is not so much into being a commercial fig grower but knowing the potentials of such cultivars that may prosper in my zone. If one was successful providing figs for his community here then I would be interested in the same information from them. Which cultivar is the number one over all for this climate? We may not know for sure for another five to ten years and even then it could be a guess. I have my thoughts and opinions but I would like to see the thoughts of those who are doing it. __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448820064	Reply with quote #8

Quote: Originally Posted by brianm You can do it Charlie! Figs are getting popular again there is definitely a market. I won't get into details but healthy delicious fruits especially figs can be marketed to the younger generation. Many have never tasted a fresh fig. Good luck! I agree! __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448820256	Reply with quote #9

Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie Good post Danny. As for me personally, the U-Pick would be my choice and "scale" being large or small is debatable. Large to me would be a few acres since all I've ever had is a back yard. I will probably always have a personal collection of potted fig varieties. For the commercial side I'm going to start with Hardy Chicago. For one, it's a delicious, berry tasting fig. If you don't have figs people like, they won't pick em! It's known cold hardy, good grower and producer. All that and I'm fortunate enough to have found a very large tree and the owner is giving me all the limbs. We made a deal he gets back a portion of the trees I'm able to propagate from them. Sounds like a reasonable goal! Hope to see you go for it! Thanks for the info on Hardy Chicago, it seems that it is the best known for such projects. Although I know there are some varieties that are not as well known except by fig enthusiasts such as on this forum, that can do as good as Hardy Chicago and some say better such as the MBVS. Do you grow MBVS? __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448820481	Reply with quote #10

Quote: Originally Posted by hoosierbanana Having a market is the most important thing. Fresh figs that are picked tree ripe only keep for 1-3 days, so either you sell them fast or pick them under-ripe and get no return business. Selling them as a fresh/raw product is the only way to do it without getting permits, or having a certified kitchen. To process them you need a certified kitchen, so selling them frozen and making jams etc. is a no-no. Although you can save figs by freezing them until you have enough for a batch and take them to a processor to have a product made. Trees are better money, if you are selling fresh figs then have some trees there also. I love the idea of u-pick but requires an awareness of the fruit and the operation on a large level. It is probably the best idea overall for such and operation. I am more interested in which cultivars would be best in such an operation than the actual business aspect. __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1448827975	Reply with quote #11

Quote: Originally Posted by tennesseefig Quote: Originally Posted by Charlie Good post Danny. As for me personally, the U-Pick would be my choice and "scale" being large or small is debatable. Large to me would be a few acres since all I've ever had is a back yard. I will probably always have a personal collection of potted fig varieties. For the commercial side I'm going to start with Hardy Chicago. For one, it's a delicious, berry tasting fig. If you don't have figs people like, they won't pick em! It's known cold hardy, good grower and producer. All that and I'm fortunate enough to have found a very large tree and the owner is giving me all the limbs. We made a deal he gets back a portion of the trees I'm able to propagate from them. Sounds like a reasonable goal! Hope to see you go for it! Thanks for the info on Hardy Chicago, it seems that it is the best known for such projects. Although I know there are some varieties that are not as well known except by fig enthusiasts such as on this forum, that can do as good as Hardy Chicago and some say better such as the MBVS. Do you grow MBVS? I have one MBVS and it was my worst grower of all the varieties I have, over 100 now. It didn't do anything most of the year but finally shot out a few leaves late summer and practically no vertical gain, yet it had nice roots when dug up and brought into the garage with the rest. The other on your wish list being Green Ischia, here's a photo I took earlier this year of a local GI growing next to the Arkansas River on the South clay bank. It has never been winterized other than some hay at the base for the first few years. It's the one directly behind this group of folks... Some type of BT on the left and HC to the right. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448830931	Reply with quote #12

Nice trees!!! Thanks so much for the pictures, I always appreciate that. It is very inspirational. How well does the Ischia produce for you? I want one!!! How does it compete overall with your Hardy Chicago? I am surprised by what you said about the MBVS as to what I have read from others but I'm not totally shocked. __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448831121	Reply with quote #13

WOW!!! You can get cuttings of this tree???? Have you tasted the fruit and seen how much it produces? At first I thought this was your tree on your property until I reread your post. It's the one directly behind this group of folks... Some type of BT on the left and HC to the right. __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1448832528	Reply with quote #14

I don't know yet about getting cuttings from these trees. Have offered my pruning services, for free of course. They were delicious and the trees were still pretty loaded with ripening figs after they harvested the majority of the crop and many still on they considered to be over-ripe. I tell ya, that was my very first day of fully stuffing my face with all the figs I could eat and they sent us home with some and jars of some more, candied figs and fig sauce. Unreal how good!!! :) That website blog and getting involved with the chaffee learning fields fig trial has opened more local fig doors for me than I ever imagined. You might consider doing the same. You never know. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

ross

Registered:1437442979
Posts: 375

Posted 1448832836	Reply with quote #15

If you were going to commercializing dried figs, which fig would you choose other than Calimyrna? Also which fig guys think tastes the best dried? __________________ Ross - Zone 6B/7A - Philadelphia My Cultivar List / Pictures! / My YouTube

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1448835411	Reply with quote #16

Quote: Originally Posted by ross If you were going to commercializing dried figs, which fig would you choose other than Calimyrna? Also which fig guys think tastes the best dried? The very first real fig I ever tried was in 2014, a dried black mission. It must have been spoiled and then dried. So horrible it nearly put me off trying to grow figs. Then a good, dried turkish changed my mind. I would also like to know what others think of different dried varieties. __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

pino

Registered:1383190021
Posts: 2,118

Posted 1448837105	Reply with quote #17

@Ross In Italy Dottato(kadota) is the fig used commercially for drying. There are many simple but amazing Italian recipes using dried figs. Personally I love both Dotatto and Calimyrna dried fiigs. Lightly roasted with an almond or walnut in the centre. Yummy and very nutritious! In my zone I can't grow Dottato and Calimyrna but luckily my very prolific grower fico bianco dries very well and is also delicious:) __________________ Pino, zone 6, Niagara, JCJ Acres Wish; Peace on earth and more figs Italian 258, Galicia Negra, Luv, trade suggestions welcome.

eboone

Registered:1378418906
Posts: 1,101

Posted 1448841246	Reply with quote #18

Don't discount dried Mt Etna varieties or dried VdB. I dried some of of both this year and though smaller than commercial dried Black Mission figs they had a far better taste, possibly because my figs were extremely ripe. __________________ Ed Zone 6A - Southwest PA --------------------------- Short wish list: CDDG, LSU Red, Dark Greek (Navid), Col Littman's Black Cross. And any cold hardy early fig.

GreenFin

Registered:1331268315
Posts: 684

Posted 1448846146	Reply with quote #19

Improved Celeste would be a good one to try growing in-ground in zone 7a. It's really productive and ripens even earlier than Hardy Chicago here in my zone (6a). __________________ James, zone 6a Kansas (zone 10 greenhouses); wish list is in my profile http://www.FigCuttings.com

Charlie

Registered:1404043833
Posts: 1,214

Posted 1448850829 · Edited	Reply with quote #20

Quote: Originally Posted by GreenFin Improved Celeste would be a good one to try growing in-ground in zone 7a. It's really productive and ripens even earlier than Hardy Chicago here in my zone (6a). Can't believe I don't have that one yet. Got some cuttings for sale? Edit, nevermind I see you do.:) __________________ Zone 7A ~ Fort Smith area Arkansas

tennesseefig

Registered:1447835812
Posts: 218

Posted 1448860644	Reply with quote #21

http://naldc.nal.usda.gov/naldc/download.xhtml?id=CAT87209189&content=PDF A basic but very helpful PDF on this subject. __________________ Micah 4:4But each one shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, with no one to make them afraid, for the mouth of יְהוָה of hosts has spoken. Zone 7a, wanting: JH Adriatic, Smith, Strawberry Verte, VdB, RdB

Smyfigs

Registered:1443660141
Posts: 1,658

Posted 1449779325	Reply with quote #22

Very interesting read, Tennesseefig! __________________ Meg-Hardiness Zone 10a Looking for... Socorro Blk Wuhan Jolly Tiger Lamperia Preta Herschtetten St. Jean Black Ischia "The best way to show my gratitude is to accept everything, even my problems, with joy." ~ Mother Teresa "Do not pass by a man in need for you may be the hand of God to him." ~Proverbs 3:27~ "He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted." ~Job 5:4

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