Growers for Stellar Distributing Inc., Madera, Calif., have added about 600 acres of figs this year, according to Kurt Cappelluti, sales manager.
The company expects to add volume in September, October and November.
Growing for the fresh market, he said growers have planted twice the number of trees per acre compared with five years ago.
“Everything we do is dedicated to fresh,” he said.
Growers have planted twice the number of trees per acre compared with five years ago.
“We know we will have a lot of volume in August, but we’re going to have really good volume in September and October this year,” he said.
“Production is going to be at least the same as last year, if not 20% higher,” he said.
Between all varieties, the firm may market a minimum of 2 million 4-pound trays, he said.
The company has a big proportion of their crop that is organic, he said, with organic figs expected until nearly the middle to the end of November.
About 50% of Stellar’s early crop is organic, while 25% to 30% of its main crop is organic, Cappelluti said.
Tiger figs, a yellow- and green-striped fig with crimson-colored seeded pulp, is a substantial part of the Stellar Distributing’s offerings.
“There are a lot of inquiries for ads on the tiger figs,” he said, noting that one of Stellar’s growers controls about 90% of tiger fig production.
Tiger ads begin in August and continue through November, he said.
