Domestic supply of dates out of California is looking healthy. “Supply is really good right now,” says Hope Barbee of Coachella, Ca.-based Double Date Packing. “Everyone has plenty and Ramadan is a month earlier this year so a lot of orders are going out to export as well as domestically.” In fact, Barbee notes that supply is up slightly. “The trees are maturing so we’re getting better production than in previous years,” she says.
In turn, Barbee adds that demand is growing as well for the sweet dark-colored fruit. “People are really started to become educated on dates—and not just on Medjool dates,” she says. “They’re using them for sugars, syrups, snacks before exercise and more.”
Prices up slightly
Meanwhile prices are stable but they’re on the higher end “because we send out a higher quality of fruit.” (Barbee says that Double Date, which currently specializes in whole Medjool dates, hand-pollinates every bloom to ensure the quality of its fruit.)
While the container orders are coming in for Ramadan, a higher date-consumption holiday, Double Date is working to tap into another holiday first: Valentine’s Day.
“We’re working with retailers pushing “flowers and a date” instead of flowers and chocolate for Valentine’s Day,” says Barbee, who notes she’s asked retailers for placement of dates around their floral departments.
For more information:
Hope Barbee
Double Date Packing
[email protected]
Tel: +1-760-398-8900
www.doubledatepacking.com
