Fresh figs are available for purchase August - September. Fig trees are ready for purchase in the spring and summer. Many sizes and varieties of fig trees are available, please contact the farm if you're interested in figs and would like to order yours!
The Orefice Heirloom Italian Fig
In 1938 Joe's great-grandparents, Giuseppe and Antonia Orefice, first generation Italian Americans, acquired their fig tree from Faicchio, Italy, Giuseppe’s birthplace. Every year Giuseppe would plant his fig tree at his home in Bristol, CT during the spring, harvest the sweet purple figs, dig up the tree in the fall, wrap the roots in a burlap sac, and store the tree for the next season in his basement. Periodically, he would separate off new shoots and start a new tree. This was the beginning of an family tradition.
Giuseppe Orefice passed away in 1981 but the tradition of growing the Orefice fig has been continued by his decedents Michael Orefice (grandson, Golden Acres Farm, Harwinton, CT) and Joe Orefice (great-grandson, North Branch Farm).
Figs grown on North Branch Farm are genetically identical to the original tree imported by Giuseppe Orefice in 1938. They produce very sweet deep purple figs year after year with little care. While the figs are a wonderful addition to any meal, it is a shame not to enjoy them fresh.
Care of your fig tree: Your tree will thrive if you give it the following: water, warm temperatures, full sun, and composted manure. Bring your tree outside after danger of frost and bring it inside before the first killing frost (sunrooms are a great spot). Winter storage is best achieved at temperatures 32 – 50 F (such as a cool basement), and don’t forget to water periodically. Never let the roots freeze, remain fully saturated, or completely dry out; as these are the things that will kill a fig tree.
The Orefice Heirloom Italian Fig
In 1938 Joe's great-grandparents, Giuseppe and Antonia Orefice, first generation Italian Americans, acquired their fig tree from Faicchio, Italy, Giuseppe’s birthplace. Every year Giuseppe would plant his fig tree at his home in Bristol, CT during the spring, harvest the sweet purple figs, dig up the tree in the fall, wrap the roots in a burlap sac, and store the tree for the next season in his basement. Periodically, he would separate off new shoots and start a new tree. This was the beginning of an family tradition.
Giuseppe Orefice passed away in 1981 but the tradition of growing the Orefice fig has been continued by his decedents Michael Orefice (grandson, Golden Acres Farm, Harwinton, CT) and Joe Orefice (great-grandson, North Branch Farm).
Figs grown on North Branch Farm are genetically identical to the original tree imported by Giuseppe Orefice in 1938. They produce very sweet deep purple figs year after year with little care. While the figs are a wonderful addition to any meal, it is a shame not to enjoy them fresh.
Care of your fig tree: Your tree will thrive if you give it the following: water, warm temperatures, full sun, and composted manure. Bring your tree outside after danger of frost and bring it inside before the first killing frost (sunrooms are a great spot). Winter storage is best achieved at temperatures 32 – 50 F (such as a cool basement), and don’t forget to water periodically. Never let the roots freeze, remain fully saturated, or completely dry out; as these are the things that will kill a fig tree.
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