Figs grow on the Ficus tree (Ficus carica), which is a member of the Mulberry family. Ficus is a pan-tropical genus of trees, shrubs and vines occupying a wide variety of ecological niches; most are evergreen, but some deciduous species are endemic to areas outside of the tropics and to higher elevations.

The Common Fig (F. carica) is a temperate species native to southwest Asia and the Mediterranean region (from Afghanistan to Portugal), which has been widely cultivated from ancient times for its fruit. Figs can trace their history back to the earliest of times with mentions in the Bible and other ancient writings. They are thought to have been first cultivated in Egypt. Ancient conquerors later introduced figs to other regions of the Mediterranean and later spread to the Western Hemisphere by the Spaniards in the early 1500's.

Figs are normally eaten fresh from the tree or as a dried product. The sweet, delicious flesh of the fig has long been used as a sweetener before the advent of refined sugars. In addition to the popular cookie made with figs, they are frequently used to enhance both savory dishes and desserts.

Figs range dramatically in color and subtly in texture depending upon the variety, of which there are more than one hundred and fifty. Some of the most popular varieties are:

• Black Mission: blackish-purple skin and pink colored flesh
• Kadota: green skin and purplish flesh
• Calimyrna: greenish-yellow skin and amber flesh
• Brown Turkey: purple skin and red flesh
• Adriatic: the variety most often used to make fig bars, which has a light green skin and pink-tan flesh

Figs are an excellent source of dietary fiber, potassium, and manganese. They are also high in iron and plant calcium, and may also be beneficial for medicinal purposes as a diuretic and laxative. Of all the most popular fruits, figs rank the highest for total mineral content.

Encore Fruit Marketing can provide an excellent source of fig juice concentrate to help consumer products deliver one of the 5 A Day fruit servings.

Fig juice concentrate is carefully processed from fresh, ripened dried figs to provide the essential nutrition, flavor and color, in a convenient, ready to use ingredient form for processed beverage and food applications. Fig juice concentrate is an excellent ingredient to add a fruit serving to your retail label for beverages, cakes, pies, pastries, sauces, jellies and other processed foods like nutrition bars and snacks.

Contact Encore Fruit Marketing today for product samples and information on fig juice concentrate at www.encorefruit.com or Click Here to use our convenient Contact Form.