Madinah farmers begin date harvest as fruit reaches peak ripeness

Farmers in Madinah have begun harvesting dates as the palm fruit reaches peak ripeness, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The harvesting process involves multiple stages, including pollination, thinning to support optimal growth and bagging dates in palm fronds to protect them from the sun’s heat.

Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Radadi, chairman of the Madinah Dates Cooperative Association, emphasized the importance of post-harvest practices in ensuring date quality. He noted that recent studies suggest storing dates at 4°C for six months preserves the fruit and enhances its nutritional value by increasing phenols and antioxidants, effectively doubling the nutritional benefits after a year.

Al-Radadi described the consumption stages of dates: “khalal” (changing color to yellow or red), “rutab” (softening), and “tamr” (fully ripe and edible in moist or dry form). He explained that the harsh sun in the Kingdom causes dates to develop higher levels of phenols, offering protection against various diseases.

Currently available dates include ajwa, sukkari and medjool, with safawi, anbarah, barni and shalaby dates expected later in the season.