The South African Fig Producers' Association is involved in the cultivation, production, packaging, marketing and export of figs throughout the country.
Most fig farms are based in the Western Cape due to its hot and dry climate. Small amounts of produce also come from the Northern Cape and North West provinces. Figs are produced during the long summer months, and are exported to off-season countries. There are 400 permanent farm workers employed in the fig industry, and around 2,000 seasonal and pack house workers.
Members of South African Fig Producers' Association have access to extensive information on fig varieties, and its suitability for farming and export market trends. South Africa’s most popular varieties are Evita, Ronde de Bordeaux and King, but there are lesser-known varieties farmed near the Western Cape towns of Porterville, Malmesbury, Hermon, Riebeek Kasteel, Paarl, Worcester, Napier and Ladismith. The fig farming community thus has access to research on new varieties, its success in South African soil, yield, crop management and common diseases through South African Fig Producers' Association.
South African Fig Producers' Association releases annual production and exports statistics, which allows farmers to measure their production to the rest of the country. Annual summaries include a worldwide trend forecast, with comparisons of South Africa’s fig industry to countries such as Brazil, Canada, USA and Morocco.
A delicate, yet versatile fruit, the fig has been known to mankind for millennia and is a hugely popular fruit in Turkey, which is the world...