Question on Dates

[littleangelbear]

Hi there,

Just curious about dates (the kind from the fruit family LOL). I was curious about what do you look for in buying some good quality dates and where is a good source? I am thinkingn I need to buy a large quantity to have on hand for desserts, etc. I have not used them much prior to being raw.

What advice do you have in my date shopping adventures? I was thinking of buying some in an actual store, but I really had no luck in finding any good ones :( I am thinking of mail order. I know Alissa lists a company in the back of her cookbook.

I was also curious to know if the dates you tend to buy are dried or not? I am sorry to ask 'dumb' questions, but I want to make sure I get the good stuff :)

Bear hugs,
Lisa

[Mystical]

I buy in bulk from:

The Date People
630 E Beal Rd
Niland, CA 92257
(760) 359-3211

Call them to order. They have many varieties.

[rawpriestess]

I buy fresh ones form the local health food store, they are 6.99 a pound, but if you buy the whole flat, they are 3.99 a pound, and it is only about 7 pounds or so, Dragggon goes through them pretty fast.

Costco also has them fresh, in containers, although we've seen three different containers in the last year, the last one was Dole, so wouldn't buy those, but the other two were local farms, and fresh and inexpensive, about 2.99 per pound or less.mmmmmm
most come with pits, and I've never bought them dried.

We buy only medjools, although I'm sure the other ones are great too.

[littleangelbear]

Thanks for the heads-up. I am going to probably order from the Date People. It feels like the right choice...It will probably save me time trying to search for the 'best' ones too LOL...know what I mean? :)

[Rawling]

how long do they last in the fridge?

[swiddweas]

Ask before you buy. Ask them if the dates are steamed or heated in anyway. Freezing is acceptable, although it does kill the bugs, I am wondering if freezing kills the enzymes also, even though the company says it doesn't. Most every date company I know freezes their dates and keeps them frozen until point of sale.

For example, last Month, I bought about 12 packages of Deglet Noor dates only to suspect after tasting them that they had been processed. So, I called the company and, sure enough, they had been steamed at a very high temp. to kill bugs, ect. Needless to say, I learned my lesson and now I make a special effort to ask for the processing info. If the store doesn't know for sure, ask to see the box and find the number to call them yourself. I have done this.

Even the most expensive dates are somettimes steamed, thus, cooked food.

It pays to know what you are buying.

PattyE