Figs from each crop year will begin to sugar over time and each crop year is different. You may have purchased figs that are beginning to sugar.  This sugaring results when figs dry.  Our figs are kept in cold storage at a moisture level of approximately 15% until ready for processing for sale.  We then wash and re-hydrate the figs to a moisture level of about 30%.  As the figs begin to dry after packaging, sugar from inside the fig moves to the surface and sugar crystals are formed.  The white spots you see are sugar crystals.  

We have been told, by seasoned fig aficionados, that they look for sugared figs in the marketplace.  They seem to be much sweeter when eaten because of the surface sugar. 

You may put the sugared figs in a microwave and heat for a few seconds until the sugar begins to melt.

Enjoy the goodness of the figs.