Lots of Italian influence in NY. I’ve even seen fresh figs at farmers markets here and they are fairly common in many grocery stores- especially ones with Italian names like DeCicco’s and D’agistino’s in my neighborhood. Fortunately I have plenty of my own- store bought ones usually only have, at best, a few ripe ones in the box.
Figs grown where it is dry can last more than a day or two when ripe if refrigerated but they are more perishable than most fruit, I agree.