There’s a lot of enthusiasm at SunDate this season and the company is positioned for continued growth. “As we are every year we’re experiencing growth due to young plantings coming to maturity,” said DJ Ryan, sales and operations manager for SunDate. “As those trees get older the tonnage goes up so we’re definitely increasing in volume.”

Dates, a commodity long underappreciated and often misunderstood are enjoying continued steady growth — much to the benefit of date growers and shippers. The California Date Commission is doing its part to grow demand, according to Kristy Kneiding. “We’re pursuing new research projects in the coming year with a focus on the nutritional side of dates in order to connect their health benefits with possible promotional opportunities."

Joolies Dates won a New Hope Network 2022 Expo East NEXTY Award. The company's latest product, Jooliettes Blood Orange Dark Chocolate, was named Best New Sweet Snack in the coveted industry awards.  

August marks the beginning of Medjool date harvest season, and Bard Valley Natural Delights is primed for a successful harvest season this year. To support the brand’s growth, the company has also expanded internally with strategic additions to its sales and marketing staff.

Natural Delights has launch Truffles, a wholesome take on chocolate covered fruit snacks. After a successful trial period with retail buyers and consumer media, the brand is excited to launch a full-scale marketing campaign around the new product, now available to order.

Joolies Dates, a three-year-old company focused on fresh dates especially the Medjool variety as its name suggests, was founded on the premise of bringing marketing savvy to the date category.

“Only 6-8 percent of American households consume dates,” CEO Mark Masten told The Produce News recently, indicating that increasing the penetration of dates is the company’s mission.