Dates!

No, I'm not giving advice on dates, as in people dates.  This is even better!  Dates as in the oldest known cultivated tree crop and one of the least understood of all fruits produced.  (sad face)   Growing the finest dates in the world is the most expensive crop to produce.

The only way to perpetuate a variety of dates is to propagate its offshoots.  A date palm produces at or near its base 5 to 25 off shots or suckers during their first 10 to 15 years of life.  The root system of the date palm is similar to that of an onion, and none of its roots ever get any larger than our little finger.

Date varieties-
Medjool-are the largest variety of dates.  They are a soft dates.  Each date can weigh an ounce of more.  There are sweet, creamy and soft.  They are often called the Cadillac of dates.  They were first grown in the California Desert in the 1930's from 11 offshoots imported from Morocco.  The original trees in Morocco were destroyed by disease and all the Medjool Dates  in the world today are descended from those offshoots brought to the California Desert.

Deglet Noor-This is a semi -dry date originally from Algeria.  Today it is the leading commercial variety grown in the United States.  Deglet Noor means "Date of Light" and these dates are a golden-amber color with a translucent skin.  They are sweet, semi-dry date with a delicate flavor.  They are more chewy than Medjool and not as rich.

Blonde Dates-are medium-sweet, creamy, and soft. 

Brunette Dates-sweet and soft.  They are one of the Black Date varieties.  They were developed in 1927.

Bread Dates (Thoory Dates) are chewy caramel-like in texture.  They are noise or sticky.  Thoory is the only dry date variety grown today in the United States.

The variety of dates are considered soft, semi-dry or dry.  Dates are classified into three categories depending on the texture and consistency of the flesh of the fruit under normal ripening conditions. 

In general, soft date varieties have high moisture and little sugar.  The semi-dry dates have less moisture and more sugar.  The dry dates have very low moisture and high sugar. 

The average size date has about 23 calories and 5-6 medium sized dates equal one serving of the five-a-day fruit and vegetable servings recommended by the national Cancer Institute.  A serving of dates is fat-free, cholesterol-free, sodium free, and a good source of fiber. 

Dates contain important minerals including iron, calcium, magnesium, copper, zinc, and potassium.  Dates also contain a variety of B-complex vitamins, including thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid.  Dates have 2.5 times are much dietary fiber and more potassium than bananas. 

In general, date are between 20% and 30% water, and 75-80% sugar.  Protein is 2%, fiber is 2.5%, and somewhere less than 2% fat, minerals and pectin substances.