Figs

Find your local farmers market!

Figs, Ficus carica, are the fruit of a flowering tree native to the Middle East and Asia that is in the mulberry family. It is believed that edible figs are one of the first plants cultivated by humans, with fossil records dating back to past 9000 BC (that’s about a thousand years before wheat and rye!). These incredibly sweet fruit can be cultivated throughout the temperate climates of the world. Figs can be eaten a variety of ways, be it raw or roasted or dried (and I personally love them all). I especially love figs on top of a salad! See my recipes for Citrus, Fig, and Walnut Salad and Fig and Pistachio Salad.  

Figs are known to be especially high in glucose, which can make them a difficult food for people with weight problems or insulin resistance. Since you consume the whole fruit, you’re also getting a good amount of fiber. They also have trace amounts of the majority of vitamins and minerals.  

Figs are in season in late summer to early fall. You might be able to catch fresh figs at the grocery store or farmers’ market then. You can also buy dried figs in bulk online, which I love. I grab my figs from Amazon.