Grocery stores today frequently mislabel many fruits and vegetables. For example, some people know eggplants, tomatoes, and squash are all fruits, but most do not know that bananas are actually berries and figs are flowers.
Figs are a popular food in the Mediterranean ad Middle East since that’s where they originate. In the United States, on the other hand, they are not as common. In fact, nearly all figs in the US are grown in California. The state has the perfect conditions for this unusual fruit – full sun, warm temperatures, and well-draining soil. The fig-growing season in California ranges from May to November, depending on the species.
When most people think of figs, they picture the dark purple-black Mission figs. However, there are also Brown Turkey (light purple), Kadota (amber), Sierra (light green), and Tiger (green and yellow striped) varieties. Each has a unique flavor ranging from rich and “meaty,” to light and citrusy, similar to a raspberry.
Regardless of the variety, fresh ripe figs are sweet and nutritious. In fact, famous Roman scholar Pliny the Elder once said, “Figs are restorative. They increase the strength of young people, preserve the elderly in better health, and make them look younger with fewer wrinkles.”
