The California fig crop did not begin its season this year quite as early as last year’s record setter, but it is early nonetheless.

Kurt Cappelluti, sales manager for Stellar Distributing Inc. in Madera, CA, which is owned by M.L. Catania Co. Ltd. in Mississauga, ON, said “the fig crop is definitely earlier than it used to be. We picked our first fruit on April 27.”

George Kragie, president of Western Fresh Marketing in Madera, also reported harvesting figs in April this year. On May 4, he told The Produce News that the first figs were sent to market the previous week in a two-pound half tray because of the tremendous price they were getting. He said those packs were returning about $20 to the shipper. “There is a lot of excitement right now to the start of the season,” he said. “We are getting lots of inquiries.”

Whether it is the lack of rain that California has experienced the last few years, global warming or just the luck of the draw, this is the third year in a row of what could very well be called a trend. In 2013, California fig growers picked their first fruit on May 8. At the time, Cappelluti said in 20 years of selling figs, it was the earliest start date that he had witnessed. He has now been in the deal for two more years and the 2013 May 8 start date is now the third-earliest on record.

The 2014 start date of April 23 seemed phenomenal as it broke the previous record by two weeks. That’s like knocking 20 seconds off of the world’s record for the mile or high jumping a foot higher than has ever been done before. But this year, another April start seems to indicate that there is something in the air — like warmer weather.

But in any event, the industry’s marketers will take it. The vast majority of California figs are sent to the processor each year and consumed as dried figs. The fresh fig market is a good one but has limited potential each year. Everything that can be done that lengthens the availability of the crop so the true fig devotees have more opportunities to consume is great news for growers and shippers.

Kragie said fresh figs will only trickle in until about mid-May. At that point volume will start to pick up and build to a promotable level by mid- to late June. “There will be plenty of fruit for Fourth of July promotions,” he said.

He added that throughout July and August, there will be promotable volumes.

Cappelluti noted a similar supply trajectory when discussing the progress of his firm’s various growing regions this year. He said the Breva crop, which is the earliest fruit and comes from the previous year’s budwood, was being picked in late April and early May, and is on the light side. Once the industry gets into the main crop (from this year’s budwood) and the main varieties such as Brown Turkey and the Black Mission, volume should pick up quickly.

The Stellar Distributing executive anticipates having fresh figs until the end of November. He noted in early May that the market was in the $42-50 range (for a four-pound carton) but it would drop quickly once the volume increases. By the time retailers are promoting it heavily, Cappelluti said the market could be in the $10-12 range.