Last year, the timing for figs was thrown off because of weather issues, but this year things are back to normal, which is great news for The Specialty Crop Co., one of the largest growers of fresh and dried figs in the world.

The company was founded in 1989 by Kevin and Diane Herman in Madera, CA. Additionally, Herman Produce Sales, started in 2017 by their son, Erik Herman, specializes in packaging and selling the fresh, California-grown figs from its parent company. Committed to quality from field to shelf, the two entities ensure its customers receive the finest produce and packaging.

“Our California fig season is right around the corner,” Erik Herman said. “The first crop, Black Mission, should start sometime the first week of June and run all month, followed in mid-July by Brown Turkey then Sierra and Tiger figs, with Black Mission figs following again.

“The weather has been phenomenal this year so things are looking really good so far,” Herman said. “The size looks to be really good, same with quality. We got good rains and it’s been a mild spring, which is nice in California for once. The trees are happy and we have a good snowpack with plenty of water, so the outlook is really good.”

Over the last five years or so, figs have started to become more mainstream, whereas a decade ago they were considered more a niche item and only big in certain cultures, such as Italian or Armenia.

“Now, people go to the store to look for figs,” Herman said. “I have people calling asking when fig season is in the middle of March. It’s really started to grow in popularity.”

One of the reasons, Herman believes, is the health benefits that figs offer. “It’s good in fiber and it’s sweet with natural sugars, which attracts people,” he said.

Having different varieties is one of the keys to being successful in the fig segment, and the differences between the figs Herman Produce Sales sells offers something for everyone.

“My dad compares figs to wine and cheese,” Herman said. “Getting people educated and trying figs is important because once they do, they like them.”

Herman Produce Sales has steadily grown and now serves clients across North America. The company works with a lot of retail customers, providing custom packs, and also dabbles with wholesale and foodservice business.

“We do special club packs for the Costcos and Sam Clubs of the world,” Herman said. “We do private label stuff and then we have the basic generic clam shells or tray packs for the wholesale guys. We accommodate anyone’s needs.”

As the farming side of the operation, the Specialty Crop Co. is continuing to plant more acres of figs, planting another 200 acres of figs this past spring, which is against the trend of many fig growers today who have been decreasing acreage in recent years. Next year, it will plant another 200 acres.

“We are trying to make sure that we can extend our season, going all the way until November like we did last year,” Herman said. “We have quite a few younger plantings coming on line to help fill what our customers’ needs are and to extend our season.”