Dried figs were first sold in a commerically manufactured cookie in 1892. A chemical found in figs, Psoralens, has been used for thousands of years to treat skin pigmentation diseases. Psoralens, which naturally occurs in figs, some other plants and fungi, is a skin sensitizer that promotes tanning in the sun. California produced over 30 million pounds of dried figs in 1997. All dried figs harvested in the United States are grown in California's Central Valley.
Figs provide more fiber than any other common fruit or vegetable.
The fiber in figs is both soluble and insoluble. Both types of fiber are important for good health. Figs have nutrients especially important for today's busy lifestyles. And, they have no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol. Recent research has shown that California figs also have a high quantity of polyphenol antioxidants.