Organic Date Production

Dates have been grown organically for thousands of years. Only relatively recently have certification procedures been developed to guide organic date producers. These procedures vary according to the certification authority but require at the outset the development and submission of an organic plan that describes the organic date orchard and the procedures that will be undertaken to achieve organic status. Once the decision has been made to grow organically, the planting, fertilization, cover crop establishment, and pest control steps must all be organic. Each certification authority has a list of allowed and prohibited substances that must be followed to remain organically certified. Organic procedures must continue during harvest and in the packinghouse. Fruit quality of an organic date does not appear to be inferior to a conventionally grown date, and some feel that organic dates have superior fruit quality. The economics of growing organic dates have not been studied; however, there is no doubt that the price received by the grower for organic dates is superior to that for conventional dates, which may overcome the higher cost of organic production. It is likely that organic dates will command an increasing portion of the overall date market.