Double Date Packaging is a grower, packer and shipper of California Medjool Dates, operating in Coachella, CA.

Whether it’s package uniformity, improved taste of the product or communication of its nutritional value, the company is constantly looking for new ways to bring life into the date industry.  

So far, 2026 has started out with a short crop and high demand, and the company is doing what it can to be successful. 

“As with all of agriculture, this causes the price to increase coinciding with the volume available,” said Hope Barbee, vice president of sales for Double Date Packing. “The past few years in medjool dates have brought some interesting growth patterns. Consumption continues to increase as rising health consciousness and evolving behaviors of the consumer including whole food snacking, natural sweetener and the adoption of packaged functional snacks.”

Double Date Packing is vertically integrated—from growing to packing and shipping, which benefits its customers and helps ensure consistency.

“Being vertically integrated is integral to the highest quality, food safety and stability of the fruit,” Barbee said. “Our team is personally ensuring that our fruit is grown, packaged and shipped with care and our high standards in place.”

The Coachella Valley is an ideal environment for produce but more specifically for dates.

“Medjool dates require 100 days of over 100 degrees Fahrenheit to ripen the fruit in order to harvest,” Barbee said. “If we do not reach the hot dry weather needed, the fruit will take longer to ripen. The ranches are more protected from weather storms since we are surrounded by the mountains.”

The company’s mission was founded on an idea to improve how dates are handled and presented to consumers.

“We continue this strategy today and will continue to stay focused on a higher-quality product being brought into the market,” Barbee said. 

When it comes to packaging, the company is most excited about the snack packs being offered. 

“We have a multipack which is six 2-packs in a pouch, 2 packs in a 24 count with a tear-away lid, as well as a 48-count box. We are also working on another package.”

Double Date also deals with organic dates and this is a category that has been on the rise.

“The organic product sales are building and trending towards surpassing the conventional product,” Barbee said. “Double Date has been working on getting all of our ranches organically certified. We have only two ranches still in process.”

The biggest challenge for 2026 is supply.

“The demand for medjool dates has surpassed the volume of supply for the past three years,” Barbee said. “Double Date is also continuing to build our date ranch ownership to help alleviate supply shortage. Cost of the fruit coincides with the demand. Pricing has been going up.”

Looking ahead, Double Date sees opportunity for expansion.

“We have barely touched the popularity of medjool dates in the United States,” Barbee said. “The commodity has had an incredible growth pattern over the past few years. It is an exciting time for dates.”