Behind Our Medjool Dates: A Look at Our Grower Partnerships
Great snacks do not start on a shelf. They start with a relationship. For our Medjool Dates, that relationship goes all the way back to our growers in the Coachella Valley.
Why Partnerships Matter More Than a Purchase Order
With Medjool Date harvest underway right now in the Coachella Valley, our food safety manager visited our grower's operation to see our partnership in action during this year's harvest season, and answer some of the Fruit Fam's questions about Medjool Dates.
Our Visit Answered the Questions People Ask Most
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Are Medjool dates a dried fruit or a fresh fruit? Medjool dates are fresh fruit. They begin green, then ripen from yellow to amber-brown while still on the palm. As they ripen, they naturally lose moisture and develop their signature soft, chewy texture and rich sweetness. Unlike most dried fruits, Medjool dates don’t need to go through a separate drying process after harvest.
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When are California Medjool dates harvested, and how long does the season last? The Medjool harvest typically begins in early August and wraps up by mid to late October, making dates a true fall crop.
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How are Medjool date trees pollinated? Every female date tree is pollinated by hand, one at a time, using pollen collected from male trees.
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How is date sizing controlled? After pollination, crews thin the fruit on each stalk down to just two or three dates. Fewer dates per stalk means more nutrition for each one, which is exactly how our grower achieves the plump, tender dates you expect from a Medjool.
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Where do California Medjool dates come from genetically? They trace back to eight original "mama" trees brought over from Morocco during a disease outbreak that once threatened to wipe out the variety entirely. Six of those eight original trees are still alive today, and they remain the genetic root of every California grown Medjool date, including ours.
- Are California Medjool dates exported internationally? Yes, even though Medjool dates originated in the Middle East, California grown Medjools are now being exported back to the UAE, a reflection of the standards being upheld right here at home.
What Traceability Actually Looks Like
Traceability means we can trace our Medjool Dates back to the exact partner who grew them, the exact trees behind the variety, the exact grower’s location, and the hands that pollinated, thinned, and inspected every step. Rather than relying on outside growers, our partner owns their operation end to end, so quality control happens at every step, not just at the final shipment.
That kind of relationship takes decades to build, which is exactly why we can stand behind every bag with confidence.
The People Behind Every Bite
Snacking should feel simple, but what goes into making that possible is not, from hand pollination to a Vice President’s final check before every pallet ships. That is what you are really tasting when you open a bag of Medjool Dates: naturally sweet fruit, backed by a partnership we know and trust.