Rio (Mario’s #165)

I drool thinking of this one… maybe caprified? It’s possible… BUT even East Coast growers seem to like this one. I think variety is worth checking out!

The Fig Jam

Sep 16, 2025

Type: Common

Family: Likely Atreano

Flavor Group: Red Berry (caprified), Honey Berry (not caprified)

Season: Mid

Breba Crop: Yes

Origin: Sabatucci Watermill San Vito, Teramo, Italy

Possible synonyms: Unknown

How To Pronounce

(rē′ō)

Description

Rio is a fig that was shared by Mario DiNatale. It is very good and a favorite this season. In Mario’s notes, he has it listed as a yellow fig with many doubles, and stated it is “very nice well worth growing.” I completely agree with him that it is worth growing. Mine have been more yellowish green with a bright red center.

Mario has ripening dates in mid-September, however for me, it started ripening in early to mid-August. So it likely is solidly mid-season for ripening. It is a variety prone to sunburn, so upping potassium in the 2nd & 3rd stage of fig growth may be helpful as a preventative if you get heat waves like I do.

The birds have really enjoyed this fig, annoyingly so 😆, and I was getting little tastes on the halves they were leaving behind which were sooo good. I finally was able to get some whole ones though, and they were well worth the wait. I have loved this fig this season! It’s flavor is very much like those in the Adriatic family, that classic red berry flavor. But what sets it apart is that it seems to have a little extra zing in there and isn’t as cloyingly sweet like some can be. This isn’t a sticky-sweet spoonful of sugary jam, but a just right sweetness that is delightful to the palate.

I am uncertain if mine were caprified, I didn’t test for it. It is unusual for me to have a whole tree of figs wasp pollinated, but pictures of this from the East coast look lighter than all of mine which has me thinking they were indeed pollinated. That of course influences my flavor description. One grower back East describes the taste as sweet, mild honey with tropical hints, even pineapple, and states that it is delicious. So who knows, maybe this fig is a two for one special? Hand pollinate a few and leave others not pollinated and see which you like best. Either way, you’re likely to have something yummy!