A Spring to Remember Winner of the Fig Photo Contest Is … Congratulations to Gina Haase, our Grand Prize Winner! Gina’s winning photo of Fig Compote and Chèvre Leaves is stunning. According to Gina, “These tasty little hors h’oeuvres are my go-to for cocktail parties no matter what the season. Afterall, who can resist crispy potato leaves sporting a healthy...

Fabulous Fig Photo Contest Win a Trip to Watch the Taping of America’s Test Kitchen and Meet Chris Kimball Win a trip to Boston to watch a filming of America’s Test Kitchen. We’re holding a Facebook fig photo contest with our friends at Cook’s Country and America’s Test Kitchen. One Grand Prize Winner and their One Guest will receive a...

Special Holiday Recipe Edition Delight Family and Friends Throughout the Holidays Fall brings nature’s show of colors to our fig orchards, a crispness to the air, and warm thoughts of holiday baking. Distinctive, handmade gifts of food are personal and inexpensive—something on everyone’s mind this year. Baking cookies and sweet treats, creating beautiful baskets with unique themes, and putting together...

Delight in the Sweet Summer Taste of California Figs Chocolate-Fig Cookies Make up a batch of fig cookies to enjoy with a cool glass of milk or layered into a sundae with your favorite ice cream. Makes 2 dozen cookies. Heat oven to 375ºF. In large mixing bowl, combine butter, brown sugar and granulated sugar. Beat with electric mixer on...

Spring Brings Lots of Holidays and Lots of Occasions to Enjoy California Figs Just in time for Passover! Double Chocolate Fig Macaroons 1 cup Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid Figs 2 cups toasted slivered blanched almonds 1 cup granulated sugar 3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder 1/8 teaspoon salt 1 large egg 1 large egg white  1/2 teaspoon almond extract 1 cup...

WHAT’S IN-STORE FOR 2011? Macaroons Cupcakes and pies are winding down in 2011. Macaroons, usually made with ground almonds or almond paste, sugar, and egg whites, will be 2011’s sweet sensation, reports Epicurious.com. Valley Fig Growers’ sensational Pistachio Fig Macaroons are positively delicious. These gluten-free, tasty confections are made with pistachios, figs (of course), egg whites and sugar. Try adding...

Festive Fig Lollipops These fig treats are so easy to make for all your holiday parties. Decorate with orange and black sprinkles for Halloween, red and green sprinkles for Christmas, and blue sprinkles for Hanukkah. Oh, yes–they’re healthy, too! 12 large Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid Mission or Calimyrna Figs 3/4 cup (about 4 ounces) semisweet chocolate, milk chocolate or white...

Mediterranean Fig Kabobs Great Grilling for Summer Summer is here and it’s grilling season. Kabobs make a quick meal that’s attractive, fun to eat, and great for family entertaining. You can prepare the kabobs ahead of time and easily create vegetarian and meat versions, so there’s something for everyone’s eating pleasure. Cut the foods for the kabobs in similar sizes...

A Dazzling Dessert for Spring Mini Ginger Pear Cakes with Warm Figs and Pears in Brandied Honey Sauce Whether you’re planning an Easter brunch with friends or a family dinner, these festive Mini Ginger Pear Cakes with Warm Figs and Pears in Brandied Honey Sauce make a delicious dessert offering. You can make the cakes ahead of time and keep...

Iron Chef America’s Secret Ingredient is … Figs National Show Highlights Versatility of Figs Top chefs found 10 distinctive ways to use the secret ingredient – California Figs – in their dishes created on a recent episode of “Iron Chef America.” Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto competed against Aspen, Colo.-based chef, Dena Marino, in the fig challenge which first aired January...

Valley Fig Growers Celebrates 50th Anniversary! With health enthusiasts, home cooks and culinary professionals in ever increasing numbers throughout the country turning to figs for a convenient, sweet, richly-flavored way to obtain their dietary fiber, calcium, iron and potassium, Valley Fig Growers enthusiastically celebrates its 50th anniversary. Approximately half of the dried figs harvested in California go to market through...

Valley Fig Growers Sponsors PBS Series, Joanne Weir’s Cooking Class Reaching into consumer’s homes in 2009-2010, Valley Fig Growers is a proud sponsor of Joanne Weir’s Cooking Class. A wonderful PBS series that focuses on Mediterranean cooking and features Joanne Weir, an award-winning cooking teacher, cookbook author and fig lover! Taped entirely in Weir’s home kitchen in San Francisco, the...