FRESNO — Valley Fig Growers is a California fig grower-owned cooperative. Valley Fig Growers’ Blue Ribbon and Orchard Choice California Figs are part of California’s rich history of agriculture in the fertile San Joaquin Valley. Its grower-owned cooperative has been packing delicious, nutritious California Figs since 1959.
“Our figs are always GMO-Free, vegan friendly, and packed with nutrition. Whether you enjoy figs for their nutritional powerhouse reputation, their wonderful taste, or their reputed health qualities, we know you’ll be back for more. The best dried figs come from California. Our fig-grower-owned cooperative is one of the largest handlers of figs in North America, having 30 grower members representing about 40% of the California fig industry. The soil and climate in the San Joaquin Valley are ideal for growing figs. Figs thrive in the Valley’s hot, dry summer sun and rest in the cool, wet winters. Whether you’re using our dried figs or fig products in a commercial kitchen or enjoying our dried figs at home, the benefits of dried figs are numerous. You can find them in your favorite store or online, under the brands: Sun-Maid, Orchard Choice and Blue Ribbon. You can count on California Figs,” says Linda Cain, Vice President of Marketing & Retail Sales.
“Here’s a delicious recipe from California Fig Growers for your next special event or celebration. The hallmark of an oven-braised short rib recipe is meat so tender it falls off the bone. Braised short ribs frequently appear on restaurant menus but can often be daunting to attempt at home. This recipe for braised beef short ribs brings the restaurant home. This Mediterranean-inspired take on classic, red wine-braised ribs boasts meltingly tender beef and a deeply flavorful sweet but tart sauce made with pomegranate juice and figs,” adds Linda.
Tips from Valley Fig Growers for this recipe
“Roasting the short ribs in the oven enabled us to render and discard a significant amount of fat. After braising, we de-fatted the cooking liquid, then blended it with the vegetables and part of the figs to create a velvety sauce. For the figs, we prefer Orchard Choice and Sun-Maid Mission Figs with their deep, earthy sweetness that accents the rounded tanginess of the pomegranate juice. You could also use Golden Figs for a more delicate flavor,” says Linda.
