Date Palm Production in the USA and Australia

United States Key Producing Regions California is the heart of date cultivation, particularly the Coachella Valley near Palm Springs. Smaller production also exists in Arizona and southern Nevada , but these are minor compared to California. Production Scale & Varieties The USA produces about 40,000–50,000 tons of dates annually , making it one of the top 10 producers globally (though far behind Middle Eastern countries). Key varieties: Medjool – the premium soft date, accounting for most exports. Deglet Noor – semi-dry variety, popular domestically. Other niche varieties include Barhi , Zahidi , and Thoory . Economic Importance The Coachella Valley alone accounts for 90% of U.S. production . Dates are marketed as a health food in North America, often sold pitted and packaged in supermarkets. The U.S. also exports Medjool dates to Canada, Europe, and Asia. Challenges Labor-intensive harvests (dates are hand-picked). High ...