Valley Fig Growers

Since the beginning of fig farming in California, fig growers have watched over their land and orchards with an almost spiritual zeal. Many of the original orchards planted during the inception and expansion of the Fresno Fig Garden were on marginal soil. It was a necessity for growers to take very good care of this marginal land to maintain its fertility for future generations.

Fig trees are well suited for marginal soil because they need fewer inputs, including water. In fact, a fig tree will flourish with about one-half the annual water needs of an almond tree. There have been, and continue to be, few herbicides and pesticides used in the production of figs. Many orchards are no till and most growers chip their tree trimmings for mulch or biofuel. Unlike some dried fruits, figs are naturally dried in the sun and not dehydrated in fossil fuel burning mechanical dryers.