FIGS

The Fig is a fruit full of history. From the Bible, where Adam and Eve cover themselves with Fig leaves, to ancient Greece, a piece of history that still has relevance to this day.

Unlike many fruits, a new crop dried Fig is quite different from a Fig at the end of the season. Therefore, the new season Fig is eagerly awaited by exporters, packers and consumers alike. For this reason a Fig exporters union exists in Izmir to manage the first exports. The exporters agree a date amongst themselves when the first shipments will leave, thereby negating any scramble to get the first arrivals from the fields which would push prices up. Any exporter breaking the first shipment agreement would be thrown out of the union. And so it was way back in ancient Athens, when exporting Figs was actually illegal. The word "sycophant" actually means "showing the figs" and was used against those who informed against another for exporting figs or for stealing the fruit of the sacred fig-trees.

The fig fruit is in fact an enclosed inflorescence (a group or cluster of flowers arranged on a stem), sometimes referred to as a syconium, an urn-like structure lined on the inside with the fig's tiny flowers. The unique fig pollination system, involving tiny, highly specific wasps, know as fig wasps that enter these closed inflorescences to both pollinate and lay their own eggs, has been a constant source of inspiration and wonder to biologists.

Due to the inherent issues of figs being susceptible to high aflatoxin levels, we are extremely diligent in our quality checks. Figs are tested for aflatoxin at origin and then again when entering the UK. Our figs are carefully sourced from both Turkey and Iran. The Smyrna Fig, Lerida type, is produced for us in Izmir, Turkey.

Our Iranian Figs are of a unique variety and come from Estahbanat in the Shiraz region of Iran. These lovely little Baby Figs are smaller and lighter in colour than Turkish figs. Many people remark on their pleasing miniature appearance that makes them stand out from the crowd. Due to the way in which Iranian figs are dehydrated when harvested and then rehydrated just prior to shipment, Iranian figs are far less susceptible to aflatoxin than figs from other origins, such as Turkey.

Dried figs have one of the highest contents of polyphenols – substances thought to offer the benefit of reduced cancer risk. Fig consumption has also been increasing due to the fruit’s recognized high mineral and ferrous material content. Figs are an important source of essential amino acids and vitamins, and dried figs offer significant amounts of calcium.

Western Commodities

FIGS