BREBA FIG CROP

The large fruit is the Breba or “first crop”, while the small fruit is the second crop.

The first of the California breba fig crop is rolling in, also known as the first crop. The breba crop grows on last year’s tree shoots and harvest is usually around the end of May or beginning of June. The breba crop lasts for a few weeks and hasn’t yet developed the honey sweetness we associate with figs. We will experience a short gap before the second, more flavorful crop starts up in July. The first land of Black Mission Figs is coming from Madera in the Central San Joaquin Valley.

Figs love the hot days and warm nights and are grown mainly in the central valley around the Fresno/Madera area to up north of Sacramento in Corning. Maywood Farms in Corning, CA, Stellar in Madera, CA and Susie Bee farms from Chowchilla, in the central Joaquin Valley, bring you some of the best organic figs.

Fun Fact: California ranks #1 in US production of figs and produces 100 % of the USA’s dried figs and 98% of fresh figs.

There are hundreds of varieties of figs but some of the most popular are the Black Mission with its deep purple to black skin and sweet pink flesh, Kadota with light green skin and sweet white flesh and the Brown Turkey ranging in color from brown to copper with a very fragrant flavor.