Stellar Distributing’s biggest fig season to be followed by shipments from Mexico
Stellar Distributing’s biggest fig season to be followed by shipments from Mexico
Stellar Distributing is in its fourth season shipping Tiger figs, and the production and enthusiasm for the striped skin and bright red flesh of this new fig keep growing.
The sweeter, honey-like taste has been a hit with fig fans, but is also attracting consumers who haven’t traditionally purchased figs, according to Kurt Cappelluti, sales manager at the Madera, CA-based company.
“It’s the best season we’ve ever had,” said Cappelluti. “The size is fantastic. I’m packing 25,000 trays a day and I’m still short. We made the transition to Sierra and Tiger figs. The retail side has found those varieties are more than we ever thought they would be. Turkeys and Black Missions are also doing really well. Our Calimyrnas are all gone. Sierras and Tigers will also be available out of Mexico.”
Mexican figs will start shipping in late October, when Stellar will be wrapping up its California fig season, according to Paul Catania Jr., president of Catania Worldwide, based in Mississauga, ON.
Catania Worldwide and Stellar Distributing are the only fully vertically integrated companies to supply fresh figs to U.S. markets year-round. Catania Jr. has been working with Mexican fig growers for four years, but shipped his first Mexican figs into the U.S. from his own 150 acres in the state of Sonora in April.