My name is Evan Panagiotopoulos (Ευάγγελος Παναγιωτόπουλος), a.k.a. The Fig Tree Guy, and I own and maintain this website. I live in Orange County, New York, and I am passionate about all aspects of fig cultivation.
I was born and raised in Corinth (Κόρινθος), Greece, and since November 23rd, 1977, I have lived in New York State, United States. From January 1975 to September 1977, I served on Thyella (Storm), Θύελλα, a Fletcher-class destroyer in the Greek Navy as a non-commissioned petty officer. In the picture above, I am the one standing on the right with a new recruit. Yes, I did serve as a trainer for a few months-not quite Full Metal Jacket, but I did behave, I promise. There is a Facebook group that I started and maintain dedicated to those who served on this destroyer.
I came to the United States of America on November 23rd, 1977, the day before Thanksgiving, on a F-1 visa and you can say that I am a true pilgrim.
Fig trees grow everywhere in Greece, and I have such fond memories as a kid climbing those trees to eat the fruit. There is a special page dedicated to this fact.