The tour kicked off with a private dinner prepared by celebrated local chef Alex Trujillo, who curated a menu featuring Medjool dates in every course, from cocktails and appetizers to dessert. The exclusive dinner set the tone for an exciting journey into the groves the next day.“The Harvest Tour was exceptionally well-organized, and I was especially impressed by the knowledge shared by the Bard Valley team throughout the tour,” said Michelle Newsome, commodity sales and sourcing manager at UNFI. “Being able to experience the harvest up close — seeing how dates are harvested, sorted, and packaged — highlighted the remarkable attention to detail that ensures the premium quality of Natural Delights.”
From a harvest perspective, Natural Delights said this year’s weather has been ideal for volume, and the company expects a strong crop with excellent fruit quality. "This season's conditions have set us up for success, and we're pleased to have enough volume to meet growing consumer demand without facing any shortages," Slavin added. "We're particularly excited about the growth in organic dates over the past year, which aligns with our ongoing commitment to expanding our organic acreage. As more consumers seek out organic options, we're proud to play a significant role in meeting that demand within the date category."
The dried fruit category continues to grow, with dates leading the charge at 10 percent growth year over year, according to Circana data (52 weeks ending Sept. 8). Natural Delights, in particular, grew an impressive 16.1 percent during that same period, driven by the brand's marketing efforts and consumers' increasing desire for the highest quality dates.
