California figs are kicking off what may be a robust season.
“We’re starting in Coachella with Brown Turkey figs,” says Susan Bidvia-Kragie of Madera, Ca.’s Western Fresh Marketing Services Inc. “We normally start in a limited way this week. It might get pushed back to next week because of the cooler weather and the potential for rain.”
Following the Brown Turkeys are Western’s Black Mission figs. “The Black Mission Crop looks good. Our grower says the crop is going to be double of what he had last year. It looks promising as a very good season,” says Bidvia-Kragie. “The Brown Turkeys are going to be similar to last year which is always a good solid crop. We normally get four times more Brown Turkey than Black Mission figs.”
She attributes the more abundant Black Mission crop to good growing conditions including a lot of rain and a good winter.
Offshore pressure? 
Along with California figs, other countries are shipping figs into the U.S. market currently. “For the first time, there were more Mexico irradiated figs and there are also Peruvian irradiated figs,” says Bidvia-Kragie. “There’s more offshore competition but enthusiasm and demand still seems to be there. Every year we get calls around this time left and right for figs.”
This puts pricing likely similar to last year’s numbers. “Because minimum wage and other costs continue to go up, I can’t see that this year’s figs are going to be a whole lot different from last year,” says Bidvia-Kragie. “The additional volume in the first season might force us to put out some ads. But honestly, we try and build on last year’s prices and hold there, if not go up a bit, just because everything else goes up.”
Western Fresh’s fresh figs are going to be on display this year at its booth at the United Fresh show June 10-12 in Chicago. “We go to a lot of shows and get a lot of business cards but it doesn’t always turn out,” says Bidvia-Kragie. “But every year we get customers at United and sometimes really good chain store customers. It draws a good crowd of attendees. This show pays off.”
For more information:
Susan Bidvia-Kragie
Western Fresh Marketing Services Inc.
Tel: +1 559 479 2584
susan@westernfreshmarketing.com
www.westernfreshmarketing.com