[QUOTE=ADelmanto] Crap. One more for the wish list. [/QUOTE]

I hear ya, buddy.   :)

Lolita, if you are hapoy with it then that's all that matters, right? What you decide is worth it, is your perogative. We all have our own reasons for doing things. We all decide what is and isn't important to us. Congratulations on winning this auction. I'm sure you are very happy!

I'll confess.  I was in second place.

Some people seem to focus more on money than figs?

What's on my Christmas wish list?  Not one thing.  I was thinking about collections that some folks have such as paintings, sports memorabilia, fancy clothes, purses, etc.  I live well below my means because most "things" aren't that important to me.  I buy tools I need, some electronic gadgets, and figs.  I buy figs for personal enjoyment and as a business investment since, for the time being, I can usually sell enough in a year or two to recover my cost and still keep enjoying the figs for many years to come.  Even though I sell most of my things I've also given away lots and received lots as gifts from others.

I've been a member of this forum much longer than most and remember thinking at one time I'd never pay more than $25 or so for a fig cutting or tree but it's become a passion of mine and I know it is for many others also.  Even though my farm income was down significantly this year (mostly due to weather), I have set aside funds to make sure I can always buy what I really want.  I can't afford everything I'd like but can afford anything that's important to me.  I don't ever get too surprised at any prices anymore.  In the summer of 2014 somebody paid $1,500 for an Italian 258 tree on eBay.  A couple of months someone reportedly paid much more for another variety (will keep details of that private as I don't want to be accused of promoting something I may be selling).  Good for them, they can also buy what they want.

Congrats to Frank and Lolita, young at heart.

Congratulations to the winner. Interesting some other people trying to sell this variety.. Or is it just hyping the price 

Congratulation Lolita, keep on playing !!!

That was one of my main points Harvey, does a person have to have the I-258 now for $1500 or wait like I did and pay $14 for a super nice cutting. Some do but most hobbyists do not. Also, does any fig taste better than I-258, the Maltese varieties, all the CdD varieties, Black Madeira, Preto, and the list goes on and on of former expensive varieties at their prime promotion. Some of these varieties are not even getting bids on eBay because of the widespread availability. I am sure the next new find will be promoted as the best or better tasting fig than what is already available. Oh well, that's life, be patient my friends and you can eventually get any variety that you want for a price that you can afford.

The problem is that people are less likely to share a variety they think they can sell for big bucks . Supply and demand says choke off the supply and $$$$$$ . A few years ago good varieties were widely shared gauranteeing the proliferation of the variety, now things have become about not sharing but profiting and the survival of the variety is irrelevant .

Wayne, I think either paying the $1,500 for a nice tree or waiting until you can get a cutting for $14 is fine.  There is no reason for criticizing either buyer.  Different people have different priorities.

Ponte Tresa was not promoted or hyped.  Frank doesn't do that.  His first reports of the taste of this fig was based on travels and before he even owned the tree and he is a very credible witness.  It's worth buying to find out for oneself but at what price depends on the individual.

[QUOTE=Johnparav]The problem is that people are less likely to share a variety they think they can sell for big bucks . Supply and demand says choke off the supply and $$$$$$ . A few years ago good varieties were widely shared gauranteeing the proliferation of the variety, now things have become about not sharing but profiting and the survival of the variety is irrelevant .[/QUOTE]


Yes, there are those who are selling figs as a way to pay for their hobby, or for some, as a business. Harvey for instance, is a farmer. He also sells chestnuts and pomegranates. I don't think anyone thinks that he should give them away. It is his business.
Even the new, hot varieties will proliferate, if their quality justifies it. There are many members of this and other fig forums who still share, regardless of the big bucks that they might be passing up. I was given cuttings of Ponte Tresa from the mother tree by one of our members. Didn't even ask for shipping.
There are many more people here for the love of figs, than the love of money.

$1500 for a tree Jesus... I though gold was expensive....To be honest I wouldn't mind spending money on what I desperately want, that being said I will only from a well known seller and certainly not that much. I would rather take my son on a holiday. People say FMD is a good seller, I don't know this person, so if my previous comments offended you in any way I sincerely apologies. When I spoke to MP I was surprised to find out most of the most expensive varieties sold on eBay or wherever comes directly from him and funny because he sells his cuttings for less than 25 euros. For those who said supply and demand , common guys it's a plant not a Koala bear, it can always be mass produced. I wonder when Baud and MP being in the business and all for many years will start to sell their cuttings and trees for big dollars..

Kkk2210
Baud and others in Europe must be scratching their heads in disbelief and laughing at the rediculous prices Americans are paying for twigs

Johnparav,
So true, but what I read on fig groups is that most of the Asian buyers on eBay spend hundreds and it's sad that they can't get it cheaper. We should all be helping one another. It's a fruit for God sake. I understand people have financial issues everybody does.

What makes me interested in this variety is...
1. The photo and that dark red pulp which suggests robust flavor
2. Frank's description of the taste.  Of course his taste preferences are not identical to mine or yours but it still means something.
3. The fact that it is from a more northerly area.  The mother tree is actually in Switzerland, not northern Italy as I think I read upthread somewhere.  This suggests that it might fare better in shorter season areas and/or areas with cool winters.

All that said, there are no guarantees that this will turn out to be a fantastic fig variety.  It obviously needs further evaluation and even then it will do much better for some people than it will do for others.  

Harvey, you need to read my previous posts about Frank, or maybe read the entire thread, I even tagged the thread from Ourfigs, I have bought a lot from Frank, as in my previous post, he was as surprised as the rest of us. That is the problem with long threads, sometimes we neglect to read everything. And, sometimes we read more into what is being written.

[QUOTE=waynea]Harvey, you need to read my previous posts about Frank, or maybe read the entire thread, I even tagged the thread from Ourfigs, I have bought a lot from Frank, as in my previous post, he was as surprised as the rest of us. That is the problem with long threads, sometimes we neglect to read everything. And, sometimes we read more into what is being written.[/QUOTE]

Wayne, I'm not sure what part of my post you're concerned about.  I don't think I took issue with anything you said.

Like I said Harvey, the written word is sometimes misread or misinterpreted, I could be guilty of doing so.

I was looking through the sellers recently completed sales.They have sold live RdB trees for as little as $33 recently.I'd be happy to get a nice plant for a price like that.No worries about getting cuts to root,just feed and care for it.

Nice.

Whatt RDB for $33 , I think I'm in the wrong job .

Congrats, Lolita! I would be curious to see how a non-pollinated PT fig looks like. I guess next summer we will find out!

Hi, guys!
I actually was thinking this cuttings will go for more money..
Why? I think this is still cheaper then fly to Swiss, look for the mother tree, some how to bring cuttings here..
If I won money in power ball, I will bit much more money..
And question was why?
I think this one of the best tasting figs..
I'm hope to find this one.. one day..
Hopefully Lolita real good in rooting cuttings and this cuttings will became a beautiful plants and produce lots of figs..
If not.. This is will be real sad..
I understand art, color, wish..
But, still, this one for a real fignut..

Hope your doing well Olya

Greenfig, I think FMD posted a photo of the non-pollinated fruit around October of this year on the ourfigs forum.

"There are many more people here for the love of figs, than the love of money." This has been my experience here on the forum. It is a rare and wonderful thing to be amongst true lovers of this amazing and diverse tree. Looking forward to Ponte Tresa making her way into many gardens and hearts.

Y'all are crazy!  And that makes me smile :)  Keep it up!  Good luck with the cuttings Lolita1234!

Best of luck but isn't that going to be sad if they fail or if they are a fake variety...

Fake variety ???? How did you come up with that idea ? Oh please !

I don't think anyone thinks it's fake, maybe he means in a general way, not specifically this fig or seller.

Impressive list lolita.  I can't wait to hear how the Ponte Tresa does for you.  Happy figging.

Well said, Harvey. Personally, i have been blessed by the kindness of others for which I am very grateful. I am happy with what I have and I'm not wasteful. What I value most, however, are people. Kind people move me and fill my heart more than anything else.

I'm fairly new to figs, and I'm happy if I get a good cultivar cheap! My problem though is it's not just figs! To me nothing beats a good nectarine! I grow some really amazing nectarines. Also blueberries, and raspberries, not all the same many cultivars out there. I have about 25 different raspberries and blackberries. Of course tomatoes and peppers, same thing. I have hundreds of heirlooms there. Luckily one can store by seed, so it's a different game, seed saving. Did I mention currants and elderberries? I grow white strawberries called pineberries, they taste like a pineapple with a strawberry after taste, just amazing. So many of you are lucky, you have only a fig addiction!
So buying fruit trees becomes quite expensive. Some of my stone fruit friends have well over 30 trees. And these are a lot harder to care for than figs. The payoff though is well worth it. The expense starts to become fairly big, so i get it. I just choose to direct my moneys in other areas.
Arctic Glo nectarine (it tastes even better than it looks! One of the best fruits i ever tasted of any kind). You will never ever find anything like this in a store.
  White D pineberries and a few Musk strawberries being prepped for freezing. I made preserves with these, wow! Fantastic! (I had about 200 pineberries this year)



So yeah I'm going to die broke, no doubt. (sorry kids!) Although I will have a huge smile on my face.

That's looks like a delicious problem to have drew.

I want to chime in on the PT discussion. I was in Ponte Tresa 2 years in a row, october 2014 and late august 2015. In august i had the chance to eat some of the figs of the mother tree and they were out of this world good.
I'm growing 50+ cultivars my self so i had my fair share of figs to compare it with.

Rob

Nice one mate, at lest you have tasted it. looking forward to see some pictures. 

I still don't understand why fig cuttings are sold for this kind of price. As a new variety yes for $50-$60 fair decent price. But most of us know where the PT seller got his cuttings from anyway. But to those folks who don't know the ebay scamming, then you need to look carefully on the bidding. I just don't get it the greed for money based on pure hype. Some of the popular seller got airlayers of this variety already, so why are they still bidding? Oh!! so that they can sell for top dollars next season. I understand some of you do this for a living, then why don't you buy cuttings in bulk propagate them and sell it under fixed price like every other Nurseries in this planet. But no you hype it on ebay first with the help of your elite figgers or with your second ebay account and then offer a second chance price...lol. Some folks wake up and jump off their bed seeing the price and will sadly end up buying. Why?? why can't you lot understand this scam?? One auction 10-20 sales wow.....

I love my plants and take great care for them and of-course I love fig trees. Of-course I haven't been growing them for many years like some of you, but my family did lot of  farming and growing other fruit trees. There is no such thing as a well experienced growers and highly respected trusted people (everybody desrves respect). If you really want something you can get all proper information and learn it, but then you need to have interest in it .Trusted people and good sources work together . 
Here i've said it what some of you might be thinking. I really don't care if I pissed someone off as I believe this is the truth. Also being less favorable is never going to affect my plants. And this is not referring to any particular seller nor do I intend to cause any trouble for your business . 

Happy Growing 

Whats wrong with you Vinny ? 
Cuttings don't grow on trees you know .
Oh ha, right they do grow on trees don't they .
Finally a sane person on this site .

John

[QUOTE=Johnparav]Whats wrong with you Vinny ? 
Cuttings don't grow on trees you know .
Oh ha, right they do grow on trees don't they .
Finally a sane person on this site .

John[/QUOTE]

There is nothing wrong with me. People like you and me work hard. When i hear the truth i couldn't stop myself. Also as I said I'm not blaming any particular individual.
Thanks

So this was all a set up?

Someone said because it's from a more northern region it might do well in colder winters or shorter seasons, that's not the case. Ponte Tresa is on ground level and surrounded by hills and mountains so it has a nice micro climate going.
It's not an early fig, even in the  micro climate it's growing in i had a hard time to find some ripe fruit on the tree by august 29. There were some, but i would  say less than 10%.
The year before i was there on october 4 and by that time they were all gone besides a few that were drying on the tree. So it's safe to say it ripens through the month of september in favorable conditions like Ponte Tresa has.
Just because it is Switzerland doesnt mean it gets cold there. Ponte Tresa is part Swiss - part Italian. Winters there rarely get any colder than a few days of -3 celsius.

I think this is getting a little off topic. No one is reaching through the Internet and into someone's pocket. If you don't think the price is reasonable, don't bid. (Or buy). The question "why" was intentionally vague. I wanted to know if there was something unique or special about the fig itself. Yes, apparently there is. Is it worth $540? Not to me, but to someone else, I guess so.

Now if someone was trying to sell a fake, that's something completely different. I do not believe that is the case here.

Could somebody send me a node please? Pretty please? :)

I second that Charlie! I think you need one and Arizona needs one too! Super nice pretty please???? ;-)

Vinny, you say you're not accusing anyone in particular.  However, the only person I know of that has an airlayer already and bid, was me.  Controlling the market?  Hardly.  If I went to Switerland and cut down the entire tree, maybe.  I have one tiny airlayer but is there something wrong if I want several more in hopes that I can get some fruit to taste for myself?  Also, you think prices are unreasonable but you still can't be patient until these top varieties are more plentiful and prices drop?  Someone like myself growing a variety is going to help make prices come down faster because I have prime growing conditions.  It's quite possible that if I had 3 cuttings in a year from now another 100 would become available.  Is that a bad thing for the poor working "peasants"?  And do you think you work harder to make a living than me?

Take this as an example: I'm a long time member of the California Rare Fruit Growers ("CRFG").  Our northern California chapters have annual scion "exchanges" but at least 90% of the people that come to these exchanges bring nothing to exchange but grab bags of various scions of many species for free.  Yet we rarely hear of any grafting/growing successes.  People grab lots because it's free and, in most cases, most of it eventually is thrown away because they have next to nothing at stake other than a little gas and time.  I assure you, I pay much closer attention to a fig cutting when I'm rooting it if I've paid a high price for it (or traded something of high value for it).

Yes, I'm making some decent to good money selling fig cuttings and trees.  I have also significantly increased the amount of varieties and cuttings available to the fig growing community and I don't think that's a bad thing at all.

I've waited over 10 years to take my family on a nice decent winter vacation and haven't complained about others driving up prices to prime winter vacation spots but have been patient and saved.  If others can't do the same to get the "latest and greatest" figs, whose problem is that?

Wow Harvey, you chipped in. I wasn't talking about you by the way and you are not the only one who got an airlayer of this variety. Did I mention any of your products here !! infact I am still or was bidding on your items on eBay , also recently bought something. I don't understand why you have to attack someone if they have a different opinion. For your info I Already got what I need and I still bid yours because of the quality of your cuttings. It's not just about the money, I've already spoke to you about this "changing names " of already existing Varieties and increasing the price . No need to get annoyed, everybody is free to point out their opinion . If I had problem with you I would've started a new topic and why do you think I have problem with you selling and making profit?? Am I a seller ??( well I get rid of unwanted cuttings mostly look for trade like everybody else). You mention about your vacation , I can assure you that most of us don't get all comforts in life when we want it, I would like to do many things and waited many years for it .. Like buying a house ...but I wouldn't necessarily compare it to my need to buy a plant or my hobby for that matter.

[QUOTE= Someone like myself growing a variety is going to help make prices come down faster because I have prime growing conditions.  It's quite possible that if I had 3 cuttings in a year from now another 100 would become available.  Is that a bad thing for the poor working "peasants"?  And do you think you work harder to make a living than me?

sorry missed that bit, " Someone like you" ok waiting for the prices to come down then as you advise . I really don't know how hard you work, not my problem mate. I'm not interested to know either . As I said I wasn't talking about you or anyone. It's what some of us think. You are right about free scion exchange tho .

[QUOTE=kkk2210]Wow Harvey, you chipped in. I wasn't talking about you by the way and you are not the only one who got an airlayer of this variety. Did I mention any of your products here !! infact I am still or was bidding on your items on eBay , also recently bought something. I don't understand why you have to attack someone if they have a different opinion. For your info I Already got what I need and I still bid yours because of the quality of your cuttings. It's not just about the money, I've already spoke to you about this "changing names " of already existing Varieties and increasing the price . No need to get annoyed, everybody is free to point out their opinion . If I had problem with you I would've started a new topic and why do you think I have problem with you selling and making profit?? Am I a seller ??( well I get rid of unwanted cuttings mostly look for trade like everybody else). You mention about your vacation , I can assure you that most of us don't get all comforts in life when we want it, I would like to do many things and waited many years for it .. Like buying a house ...but I wouldn't necessarily compare it to my need to buy a plant or my hobby for that matter. [/QUOTE]

My apologies if I was mistaken, but this comment certainly seemed to be targeted towards me:

[QUOTE=kkk2210]
Some of the popular seller got airlayers of this variety already, so why are they still bidding? Oh!! so that they can sell for top dollars next season.[/QUOTE]

I don't know of anyone else bidding who already had an airlayer.

Even if there was someone else, you are specifically saying there is something wrong for a person such as me for doing what we did.  If you can disagree with my opinion that there is nothing wrong with this, than I can disagree with yours as well.

The high prices I've got for some cuttings is usually because of confidence folks have in getting the right variety and good quality cuttings and thanks for your endorsement.  I have not cornered the market on anything.  Fortunately, there are pretty good supplies of most varieties within a year to prevent that.

@ Harvey Again it wasn't your auction and I don't even know FMD. How do you know who was bidding and who else got airlayers? Did I say it's in USA ?? It's a small world but not that small you know. For god sake why would I have a problem with you??
Let me clarify , like most of us I'm obsessed with figs and for last few days I was really upset about people changing names of already existing varieties etc. I have driven miles and miles to different parts of Europe to collect cuttings ( not just figs) and then you see some people ripping other people off, just because they don't have access to fee stuff. About doing what you do... It's a business at the end of the day and like every other business you do what's in your best interest , also your products are top quality . But as with everything people will have different opinion and this is why we have a forum to express our thoughts, and not just to support friends.

Kkk I know someone who has this variety from several sources. I don't know if this person was bidding on this auction, but I would not have a problem with it if this person did. You apparently have a problem with a free market economy, free will, and personal responsibility.

How do you define "ripping people off?" We are not talking about bread and milk to feed my family, we are talking about a hobby. It is supply and demand. The seller can set whatever price they want. If no one buys the price will come down. In an auction setting it is the free market in action. It is out of the sellers hands. The market takes over and it goes to the highest bidder. It is the personal responsibility of the bidder to set a limit for himself. What is my limit of money, space, & time that I will spend on this hobby? The choice is yours. I am not going to Switzerland to collect a cutting. If I had the money I'd be rooting that cutting now. I have my limits, you have yours. We all know prices will fall eventually, be patient. Happy Figging!

Wow the hot pink lady sure has created a stir. I for one am working on my patience gene (very underdeveloped!) and I am so impressed by the time, care and generosity that has been shown by the members here. I just love thinking of all the great trees sending themselves out all over the world because they have captivated us, like Ponte Tresa because they are appreciated, nurtured and shared. For me it comes down to "absence and desire". Yes it will be a cool day when I have raised some of these gems to fruiting. A delight for sure. Yes happy figging all! And thank you Ficus carica!

My opinion only, and again we are getting off the main topic and responding to one another: the price that cuttings sell for is in the hands of the buyer, only the buyer, the seller has no responsibility for what the ending purchase price will be. The only responsibility that the seller has is  the cuttings are true to name, health of cuttings, and making sure it gets to the buyer. Just my opinion. Sorry Aaron for being off topic.

[QUOTE=ADelmanto]Kkk I know someone who has this variety from several sources. I don't know if this person was bidding on this auction, but I would not have a problem with it if this person did. You apparently have a problem with a free market economy, free will, and personal responsibility.

How do you define "ripping people off?" We are not talking about bread and milk to feed my family, we are talking about a hobby. It is supply and demand. The seller can set whatever price they want. If no one buys the price will come down. In an auction setting it is the free market in action. It is out of the sellers hands. The market takes over and it goes to the highest bidder. It is the personal responsibility of the bidder to set a limit for himself. What is my limit of money, space, & time that I will spend on this hobby? The choice is yours. I am not going to Switzerland to collect a cutting. If I had the money I'd be rooting that cutting now. I have my limits, you have yours. We all know prices will fall eventually, be patient. Happy Figging![/QUOTE]
Hi sorry I missed your comments , I know this is your tread but I was just taking in general not directing to you. And there is nothing wrong with selling for big prices , but as I said its about changing names and hyping . I am free to type my opinion aren't I? Free country and all that. What is this ...A Fig mob !!..
I wasn't talking about Harvey either, If he thinks that way then I really don't know why. And I am not going to arrgue about that , because clearly he thinks I was taking about him . I on the other side was hoping to buy more from him in January ..*** sake .
Question is what's the point in paying for something that you can get for cheaper or already have . If someone wants to pay its his or her problem , nobody is jealous here . I'm not talking anymore . If you want I can delete my comments .

This is precisely why I hardly ever post on this board anymore.