Fig Fest 2010 arrives Saturday, Aug. 7, on the California State University, Fresno campus, offering tastes of figs and a variety of other foods, plus entertainment while raising money for Fresno State’s Ag One Foundation, Slow Foods Madera and the Bulldog Pantry.
The annual event, sponsored by the California Fig Advisory Board, is 9 a.m.-1 p.m. on the west lawn of the Satellite Student Union (Maple and San Ramon avenues, south of Barstow Avenue).
More than 1,000 foodies from throughout the state are expected to attend the festival, which features 16 Fresno, Visalia, Clovis and Madera restaurants and 11 food purveyors of everything from artisanal cheese and bread to biscotti and olives.
Among the vendors will be the Rue and Gwen Gibson Farm Market at Fresno State.
Fig Fest 2010 is an opportunity to sample fig dishes prepared by restaurants, sample fig products and learn what other foods go with figs. The ancient fruit is enjoying something of a renaissance as a trendy food.
Tickets are $6 in advance and are available at www.californiafigs.com. At the gate, tickets are $8. Children younger than 12 are admitted at no charge.
The beneficiaries of Fig Fest are:
- Ag One Foundation, which provides scholarships and other support for students and programs in Fresno State’s Jordan College of Agricultural Sciences and Technology.
- Bulldog Pantry, a student-organized and run off-campus food bank serving Fresno State-area neighbors in need.
- Slow Foods Madera is part of a worldwide movement promoting thoughtful, sustainable food practices.
Fig Fest is just one of two events the Fig Advisory Board is sponsoring on Aug. 7. That evening at 6 o’clock, there will be a $90-per-person Fig Feast at the Vineyard Restaurant in Madera (605 S. T St) to benefit Slow Foods Madera.
For more information, contact Rebecca Hall at 559.243.8600 or rhall@californiafigs.com.
(Photo: by Don Schrack for The Packer.)
