Fig Focus – October/November/December 2006

Welcome to our new online newsletter, FIG FOCUS

Fig Harvest—Fall Crop Update
According to Richard Matoian, Manager of the California Fig Advisory Board, the harvest of dried figs has been occurring for about the last four weeks. Overall, the crop looks to be about ten percent lighter than last year.

The estimated total for 2006 was to be similar to 2005, but now it appears the 2006 crop will be down. Most likely, the decrease will be across all varieties. While the crop will be smaller, the good news is fig quality looks very good this year.

Celebrate the Holidays with Figs
Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas

Halloween, October 31
This Halloween, send your trick-or-treaters out with a full tummy to help curb their candy appetites. Early on the 31st, ready your slow cooker and prepare Slow Cooked Cider Braised Chicken with Figs. The house will smell delicious and the slow cooker will make it easy to have an early dinner before heading out for some serious trick or treating.

Thanksgiving, November 23
Family traditions abound at Thanksgiving, but if you’re looking for something deliciously new, try making some of these side dishes and desserts featuring dried California figs to accompany your roasted turkey:

• Holiday Stuffing Balls with Figs
• Savory Fig & Walnut Dressing
• Ginger-Glazed Figs & Yams
• Fig-Cranberry Sauce with Oranges and Port
• Dried Fig, Orange, Fennel, and Sweet Onion Salad with Mixed Greens
• Elegant Fig Tart
• Candied Fig Tart With Toasted Almond Crust

Rumor has it that even mashed potatoes are good with chopped figs added!

Hanukkah, December 16
Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish Festival of Lights, commemorates the miracle of the oil. The first day on the western calendar varies from year to year; this year Hanukkah begins at sundown on December 15. While Hanukkah is a cherished family occasion filled with many traditions, contemporary recipes blending the traditions of the past with the tastes and ingredients of the present, join many of the classic dishes. Potato latkes traditionally served with applesauce are delicious with a more contemporary Chunky Northwest Pear and Fig Sauce. Desserts, a highlight of many a meal, are favored by young and old alike at Hanukkah. Warm Fig Fritters and Cheesecake Mousse with Fig Orange Sauce are sure to become holiday traditions.

Christmas, December 25
Plan ahead for holiday entertaining and gift giving. Visit our on-line Valley Fig Growers’ store and order a variety of figs packed in trays and bags for adding to gift baskets, giving as office gifts or taking to dinner parties as hostess thank you gifts.

For holiday baking and gifts, be sure to order our five-pound boxes; the quality is superb. Chocolate Dipped Figs, Fig Bon Bons, Fabulous Fig Bars, Chunky Chocolate and Fig Sugar Cookies, Warm Chocolate Fig Cakes and Chocolate Fig Pecan Bars are especially good.

The holidays would not be complete without Figgy Pudding. This traditional dessert is well worth the extra time and certain to be a seasonal highlight. Be sure to make the hard sauce, it’s deliciously decadent!

Happy Holidays from Valley Fig Growers!

Nutrition News on Figs
According to a recent article in Nutrition Today, “figs are a concentrated source of benzaldehyde, which has been used for cancer prevention in animal studies. Ongoing research suggests that figs are a rich source of a wide range of phytochemicals with health promoting effects.” The author Dr. Joanne Slavin, a professor at the Department of Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Minnesota, is involved in research on the protective properties of foods in the human diet. Of particular interest is the conclusion of the article, where Dr. Slavin states, “It is unfortunate that fig consumption is so low in this country because figs have some important nutritional contributions to make. First, figs are rich in calcium and iron, two minerals traditionally low in the American diet. In addition, figs are a rich source of dietary fiber, both soluble and insoluble. Lack of dietary fiber in the diet has been linked to a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease and cancer. Figs are also important contributors to the phytochemical content of our diet. They are a particularly rich source of quercetin, a phenolic compound that has been studied for its role in cancer and cardiovascular disease protection. Also, figs are rich in benzaldehyde, which, as studies have found, may be a potent anticarcinogenic compound. A return to our past where figs were a mainstay of the diet should be encouraged.”

Reference: Nutrition Today, Volume 41, Number 4, July/August, 2006.