SunDate steadily increasing supply of Medjool dates
SunDate steadily increasing supply of Medjool dates
SunDate is preparing for a strong 2025 season even as the overall date industry anticipates a slight decline in volume compared to last year’s crop. The company’s sales and operations manager, DJ Ryan, said SunDate is in a unique position to grow thanks to maturing date gardens and strategic expansion.
“Last year was a bumper crop — in fact, it was the biggest the industry has seen in quite a while. What we’re looking at this year on the industry side is a little more normal,” Ryan said. “Total volume across the industry will be down, but SunDate is in a different position. From as palm dates reach 7 to 11 years, production begins to increase significantly and we have a lot of acreage right in that window. So while the industry may trend lower, our tonnage will actually be up this year. We’ve also brought some new acreage into the company. Where our ownership sees opportunities they continue to pick up additional acres.”
Ryan described growing conditions as favorable this season. “We had a bit of weather last weekend, but it really didn’t seem to damage anything — it just slowed the harvest down a little,” he explained. “By the week of September 15, we’ll be closer to full production, and then it’s like a tsunami that keeps on coming.”
The first fruit of the season, he noted, has been excellent. “It’s been beautiful and demand is strong — we’re seeing double-digit growth across the board, which is fantastic. Right now, we’re pretty optimistic.”
That optimism is fueled by broad-based demand.
“Domestic demand has been very strong, and a lot of direct-to-retail growth overseas — in the U.K. and Europe, but also in Australia, Southeast Asia and other markets,” he said. “We’re finding that we can be a little more selective, and going direct to retail allows us to deliver an attractive price to the end consumer.”
Packaging remains a focus for the company as well. “We’re a little heavier in clamshells because it’s easier for consumers to see the product,” Ryan said, adding that bagged dates are continuing to grow in popularity.
SunDate is also seeing momentum in organics.
“Organic is a big push for us. Retailers are paying a premium for organic, and since most of our fruit is organic, we’re well-positioned to capture that growth on the sales side,” Ryan said.
Ryan emphasized that the company’s model is built on reliability.
“On a per-customer basis, our growth has been astounding, and having a secure supply allows us to deliver consistently,” he said. “Our vertical integration lets us manage quality very well. Our retail partners can have confidence they’ll have steady supply and a quality product they can rely on.”
