Date harvest underway for co-op

Growers with the Yuma, Ariz.-based Bard Valley Natural Delights Medjool Dates co-op started harvesting dates the first week of September and will continue through the month, said David Baxter, director of marketing and business development.

“It’s a few weeks later than usual, attributed to the early summer having slightly cooler temps in Yuma,” he said.

Fourteen growers with varying sizes of operations grow conventional and organic medjool dates under the co-op. Some growers also grow deglet noors outside of the co-op, and the co-op imports other varietals as demand grows for other varieties, he said.

Volume this year won’t be known until the fruit is in the shed in late September, Baxter said, but he said he expected excellent quality.

“While the summer started off kind of cool, the heat came on the past few months, which is ideal for medjool dates,” he said.

The record rainfall the state endured during the winter and spring did not affect the date crop.

“Our trees go dormant shortly after harvest, and the rain only impacts the fruit if it’s near harvest time and frequent, which is rare for Yuma,” he said.

The winter holidays and the months leading up to Ramadan are popular times of the year for date sales, he said.

Consumers perceive dates as a healthful food item, Baxter said.

“I think dates are highly desired for their health benefits, which include fiber, potassium, antioxidants and many other vitamins and minerals,” he said.

Although dates are sweet because of their high fiber content, they are low on the glycemic index, which allows the body to burn the sugar much more slowly, Baxter said.