As the Season Begins… Most of the activity in the orchards begins in May as the fruit appears on the trees and culminates in October when the final “picking” of the dried fruit is completed. Drought has again plagued the San Joaquin Valley, much like the last three years, and we anticipate an early harvest year of high quality figs....

Spring Celebrations! Whether you’re enjoying brunch or dinner with family and friends, here are some great recipes to make Spring memorable. Sour Cream Coffee Cake with Figs and Cream Cheese Filling Makes one 10-inch cake, serving 12 to 16 Orange Sugar–Almond Topping Cake Directions For the Topping: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Stir...

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Saint Patrick’s Day is widely recognized as a celebration of Irish and Irish American culture. Celebrations include displays of green, eating and drinking, religious observances, and parades. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, give our braised short ribs a try—and toast the luck of the Irish with a glass of Guiness. Braised Beef Short Ribs with...

Figs and Chocolate—The Perfect Valentine’s Day Couple! Figs have long been a symbol of love and fertility. The sweet allure of figs is legendary and their romantic powers well documented in literature. California figs sensuously avail themselves to the cook in dishes begging to be served on Valentine’s Day. Here is one of our newest, and best, recipes. Chocolate-Fig Bar...

Looking Forward to 2015! January has arrived and so have all the food trend predictions. Two predictions sound fitting for figs. The first is texture: “rich, chewy and crunchy”.  It’s the perfect description of figs! California Dried Figs are rich in earthy, sweet fig flavor, have a chewy texture and are filled with tiny, edible, delightfully crunchy seeds. The second...

Just in time for the holidays, Orchard Choice California Fig Spreads! Orchard Choice California Fig spreads are perfect for holiday entertaining and gift giving. Our spreads offer something for everyone. Traditional fruit spread lovers will enjoy Organic Mission and California Orange, while the more adventuresome will reach for our sassy Balsamic Pepper and Port Wine flavors. As the labels say,...

Welcome National Fig Week – November 1-7! November finds California’s fresh fig season winding down and dried fig season on the upswing. Throughout fall and winter, sweet, chewy California Dried Figs are your go to figs—versatile and always available. Dark purple Missions and amber-colored Goldens love to star in holiday recipes and celebrations. Grab a few jars of our new...

Happy Halloween! Holidays occur throughout the year, but which ones do we look forward to the most? When asked what their favorite holiday is, Americans’ top three choices are Christmas, Thanksgiving and Halloween, in that order. Pumpkin carving is a popular Halloween tradition. Ever wonder if that pumpkin is edible? Eating your jack-o’-lantern isn’t a good idea. However, certain varieties...

Supercharge September with Lots of Fruits and Veggies! Americans are not alone in needing to eat more fruits and veggies. A recent study in the British Journal of Nutrition found the majority of adults worldwide would have to at least double their current consumption of fruits and vegetables to meet the World Health Organization’s minimum recommendation of five servings per...

Introducing Orchard Choice California Fig Spreads–Fruit Spreads with Attitude Balsamic Pepper Fig Spread California Orange Fig Spread Port Wine Fig Spread Organic Mission Fig Spread Back to School is Right Around the Corner! It’s been a great summer and now it’s time to get ready for school to start. How about asking the kids which of these three recipes they...

Too Hot to Cook! We’ve got you covered with some tasty recipes that don’t require turning on the oven. It may be too hot to cook, it’s not to hot to enjoy some great tasting California Fig dishes. Curried Chicken Salad with Figs and Cashews To ensure that the chicken cooks through, start with cold water in step 1 and...

Everything is better with bacon…and California Figs! Sure to please dad on Father’s Day is a dish that includes bacon…and California Figs, of course! Bacon is more than just a popular side dish; it’s now enjoyed in everything from appetizers to desserts. People don’t just like bacon, they love bacon. Sweet and savory foods often complement each other. Think of...