We chat with Montreal fig enthusiast—and fig tourist—Michal Hacio. Hacio says that his passion for growing figs and meeting other fig growers started when he spent time living in Vancouver, where an Italian neighbour introduced him to fig growing.
Hacio says that in a country of immigrants such as Canada, people often bring something to connect them with their home country. For many people, that something is a fig plant.
He finds that a shared interest in figs is a good way to connect with other people.
Hacio has overwintered figs many different ways in Montreal. His key message for would-be growers is that there is more than one solution to overwintering figs in a cold climate. “Be creative,” he advises.