May 2007

Primary Certificate Applications Indicate Outlook for Upcoming Fiscal Year. 
With the receipt of Primary Certificate (PC) applications from fig growers, the CFAB office has determined the acreage and preliminary tonnage estimate for the 2007-2008 fiscal year.  There are 8,931 acres of dried figs in the state of California.  Although there was a decrease in total bearing acres, there was an increase in non-bearing acres and acreage devoted to the fresh market. By including the acreage of figs devoted strictly to fresh, total fig acreage is just over 10,000 acres. Growers were also asked to estimate their dried fig production for the upcoming year. The preliminary crop estimate as reported by PC holders for 2007 is 12,043 tons of dried figs. This can be broken down as 4,161 tons of Black Mission; 2,112 tons of Calimyrna; 5,277 tons of Conadria; and 493 tons of Kadota. 

Figs Featured in Governor’s Trip to Canada. 
Fresh and dried figs will be included as part of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s agricultural trade mission to Canada.  The trip, which will occur May 29-31 in Toronto and Vancouver, Canada, will tout tourism and agricultural commodity exports.  In-store product demonstrations at Loblaws, Overwaitea, and A & P’s Dominion Supermarkets will feature fresh and dried fig recipes and tasting.  Receptions and chef cooking competitions at both cities will also highlight the virtues of figs.  This is the second foreign trade mission the fig industry has participated in with Governor Schwarzenegger.  In 2004, the California Fig Advisory Board accompanied the Governor on a trade mission to Japan.

Marketing Order Public Hearing to be Held.
On May 30, 2007 the California Department of Food and Agriculture will be conducting a public hearing on the continuance of the Marketing Order for Dried Figs.  The hearing will be held at Grand Occasions Catering and Banquet at 4528 West Jacquelyn Avenue in Fresno at 10:30 a.m.  Testimony in support of the marketing order will showcase the importantance of the CFAB on generic promotions, foreign market promotion, the School Lunch Program, the necessity for grades and standards, mandatory inspections and strengthening the industry’s food safety program.  Support expressed at that hearing will preclude the need for a referendum of the dried fig industry. 

Methyl Bromide Available Through Critical Use Exemption.
Methyl bromide, a fumigant used in various ag industries, including the fig industry, will continue to be available at least through 2008.  This was secured through the fig industry’s Critical Use Exemption (CUE) filed with other similar dried fruit commodities.  The CUE for continued methyl bromide use in 2009 has been submitted and will be reviewed at a meeting to be held in Nairobi, Kenya in June.

Plans for Fourth Annual Fig Fest are Underway.
  The CFAB and Slow Food, Madera are hosting the Fourth Annual Fig Fest on Saturday August 11, 2007 at the Vineyard Farmers Market (N.W. corner of Blackstone and Shaw) in Fresno, from 9 a.m. to noon.  The event will again feature gourmet food samples from the valleys finest restaurants, fresh and dried figs, live jazz, and other fig related items.  Also in the works is a fig themed dinner to be held the evening of August 11^th.  Details on this dinner will be forthcoming. 

Figs Participate at CIA Event. 
The California Fig Advisory Board recently participated in Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Lives, an event presented by the Harvard Medical School and the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) at the CIA facility in St. Helena, CA.  The focus of the event was to bridge nutrition science, health care and the culinary arts.  The event highlighted healthy and nutritious eating choices and menu strategies.  Participants included physicians, dieticians, healthcare professionals, foodservice directors and executive chefs.

Dinner to Remember a Friend of the Fig Industry.
  On Friday, June 8, 2007 a dinner and wine auction will be held in memory of Ron Radoicich who passed away last December.  Radoicich was a long time friend of the fig industry and was integral in coordinating our Annual Fig Fest.  The four-course dinner, will feature an incredible meal prepared by James Overbaugh and Karsten Hart (Erna’s Elderberry House), Roy Harlan (Slates) and Jon Koobation (Jon’s Bear Club), as well as an extensive collection of wines. Proceeds from this event will establish the Ag One – Ron Radoicich Memorial Endowment Fund to provide scholarships for Fresno State viticulture and enology students.  For information, reservations, or to make a donation contact the Ag One Foundation at (559) 278-4266 or www.agonefoundation.org.

Amy Valente Leaves, Denise Junqueiro Arrives.  The CFAB’s Director of Marketing and Special Projects, Amy Valente will be leaving the organization on May 31.  Amy will join her fiancé, a recent graduate of Fresno State, where he has secured a position in the dairy industry in the Elk Grove area.  Amy started with the CFAB as a Fresno State intern in January 2006.  She will not be leaving the agricultural field as she has accepted a position with the Sacramento County Farm Bureau as Programs Coordinator.  Amy and Tyler Blagg will be wed on July 14 in Lodi.  Congratulations Amy on the many new changes in your life and career!

Denise Junqueiro has joined the CFAB staff on May 7.  Denise, a former CFAB intern, graduated from Fresno State with an Agri-Business degree in 2005.  Denise had most recently worked for the United States Department of Agriculture’s Ag Marketing Service (USDA-AMS).  She spent part of career in Washington D.C. and the Fresno Field Office of AMS.  Denise has worked on federal marketing orders, among other issues and served under Undersecretary Ken Clayton.  Her marketing order experience has been put to the test as the CFAB’s Marketing Order hearing will be conducted on May 30^th.