Madinah Farmers Begin Date Harvest as Season Nears Peak Ripeness of Fruit

Farmers in Madinah have started harvesting dates as the palm fruits have ripened for the agricultural season 1446 Hijri.

 The process of ripening date palms involves several stages, starting with pollination and moving on to thinning, where excess fruits are removed to support optimal growth. The dates are carefully bagged in palm fronds to shield them from the sun's heat before being harvested.

 In an interview with the Saudi Press Agency (SPA), Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Radadi, chairman of the Madinah Dates Cooperative Association, highlighted the significance of post-harvest practices in ensuring the quality of the final product.

 Al-Radadi noted recent studies indicating that storing dates at four °C for six months preserves the fruits and boosts their nutritional value by enhancing phenols (an antiseptic and disinfectant that can protect against a wide range of micro-organisms including some fungi and viruses); this process also maintains and improves crucial antioxidants in dates, which helps double the nutritional value after a year of preservation.

 Speaking on the unique qualities of dates, Al-Radadi emphasized their consumption at different ripening stages: the "khalal" stage, when the fruit changes colour to yellow or red based on the variety; the "rutab" stage, when the fruit softens, and the "tamr" stage when the date is fully ripe, soft, and can be eaten either moist or dry.

 He added that due to the intense sun in the Kingdom, scientific research has proven that dates develop more phenols to survive harsh conditions. These polyphenols offer protection against various diseases. He also pointed out that the various dates currently available due to the season in the market include Ajwa, Sukkari, and Mejdool, followed by Safawi, Anbarah, Barni, and Shalaby dates to be available later.