Growing Dates in the United States

Excerpts from the report: This bulletin summarizes information on date culture in the Southwestern United States and is based on extensive research findings and grower experience. The date palm is very different from other fruit trees in cultural, climatic, and management requirements. The bulletin is intended to give essential information for inexperienced growers, students of horticulture, home growers, and others interested in the production of this unique fruit crop. Dates are grown commercially in the desert sections of southern California and Arizona. Fruit production increased from 1 million pounds in 1926 to more than 48 million pounds in 1955. This last year was unusually favorable, as the average annual production for the 5 preceding years was only 33 million pounds. From 1949 to 1953, inclusive, importations of dates, mostly from Iraq, averaged approximately 40 million pounds annually.