Why You Should Be Cautious When Buying Medjool Dates

Summary

Israel holds 60% to 75% of global exports of Medjool. An estimated 60% of the exported dates are grown on occupied territories. Based on data from the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, Israel’s production of dates in 2017 was 136,956 tonnes, worth $181 million (£143 million) in exports. In 2022, a study by Statista found Israel to be the leading exporter of dates globally generating $330 million (£260 million) in revenue in 2022. Supermarkets also sell Israeli dates under their own brands. To sell dates, Israeli companies resort to illegal practices, such as labelling them as ‘Made in Palestine’ and hiding the company information on the packaging of the date boxes.

Consumer Advice:
– Known Israeli date brands are Hadiklaim, Jordan River, King Solomon, Tamara Barhi Dates, Rapunzel, Bomaja, Desert Diamond, Shams, Delilah, Mehadrin, Premium Medjoul, Fancy Medjoul, Royal Treasure, Red Sea, Bonbonierra, Galilee Export, Galilee Dates, Carmel Agrexco, Carmel, Agrifood Marketing and Star Dates.

– Hadiklaim also supplies supermarkets that market them under their own brand.

– Israel often labels its dates as from other countries or even as Palestinian, so you cannot trust the label.

– If you want Medjool dates, buy only from certified Palestinian sources, such as Zaytoun and Yaffa. Alternatively, look for dates from other countries.

– Palestinian dates are more expensive because Israel makes it very hard for Palestinian farmers to grow and export their dates.

– If you are not sure about the origin of the dates, do not buy Medjool dates.

Boycott rating:

★★★★★

Medjool dates are a popular type of date that is often consumed during Ramadan and other festive occasions. They are known for their large size, soft texture, and sweet flavour. However, many consumers may not be aware of the origin and production of these dates, and the ethical issues that could surround them.

Consumers need to be cautious when buying Medjool dates as Israel is the largest exporter and grows the majority of them in occupied territories.

dates, medjool, fruit — Consumers need to be cautious when buying Medjool dates as Israel is the largest exporter and grows the majority of them in occupied territories.

The Israeli Medjool Industry

According to Bloomberg, 60% of the global Medjool date market was held by Israel in 2013. Israel produces about 137,000 tons of dates annually and exports them to more than 20 countries, including the UK, France, Canada, and the US. Statistics show that in 2022, Israel was the largest exporter of all dates in the world. The total value of these exports is just over $330 million US Dollars. The majority of these dates are grown in illegal settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories, such as the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea area. These settlements violate international law and human rights and deprive the Palestinians of their land, water, and livelihoods. Israel settlers have continued to steal the land of Palestinian farmers and it is estimated that 40% of Israel’s exportations of dates is grown in illegal settlements.

Click here to read more about the violence of Israeli settlers.

The Israeli Medjool industry also relies on the exploitation of Palestinian labour, including child labour, and the use of wastewater for irrigation. Many Palestinian workers are employed in Israeli date farms, where they face low wages, long hours, poor working conditions, and harassment by the Israeli army and settlers. Moreover, Israeli date farms use wastewater from nearby settlements, which contains harmful chemicals and pollutants, to irrigate their crops. This poses a health risk to both the workers and the consumers and damages the soil and the environment.

The largest Israeli date brands are:

Hadiklaim: This is a cooperative of Israeli date growers that sells 65% of all Israeli dates. Its brands include Jordan River, King Solomon, Tamara Barhi Dates, Rapunzel, Bomaja, Desert Diamond, Shams and Delilah. It also supplies supermarkets that market them under their own brand, such as Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons and Waitrose.
Mehadrin: This is Israel’s largest fresh produce exporter, which also sells dates under the brands Premium Medjoul, Fancy Medjoul, Royal Treasure, Red Sea, and Bonbonierra.
Galilee Export: This is Israel’s second largest fresh produce exporter, which also sells dates under the brand Galilee Dates.
Carmel Agrexco: This is a former Israeli state-owned company that was privatized in 2011. It still exports dates under the brand Carmel.
Agrifood Marketing: This is an Israeli company that exports dates under the brand Star Dates.

The total export value of the leading date exporters worldwide in 2022 (in million U.S. dollars) – Statista

The Boycott Campaign

In response to the Israeli Medjool industry, many activists and organizations have launched a boycott campaign to raise awareness and pressure retailers and consumers to stop buying and selling these dates. The campaign is part of the broader Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, which aims to end the Israeli occupation and apartheid and to support the Palestinian struggle for freedom, justice, and equality.

The boycott campaign has been successful in exposing the Israeli Medjool industry and its violations, and in convincing many retailers and consumers to switch to alternative sources of dates. For example, in the UK, several major supermarkets, such as Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Waitrose, have stopped selling Israeli dates or have labelled them clearly to inform the customers of their origin. In addition, many community groups, have joined the campaign and have pledged to boycott Israeli dates and promote Palestinian and other ethical dates.

How to Avoid Israeli Dates

If you want to join the boycott campaign and avoid buying Israeli dates, here are some tips to help you:

Check the label: Look for the country of origin, the barcode, and the brand name of the dates. Avoid dates that are labelled as “Product of Israel” or “West Bank”, or that have a barcode starting with 729, which indicates that they are from Israel or the occupied territories. Also, avoid dates from brands that are known to source from Israel, such as Carmel, Hadiklaim, Jordan River, King Solomon, and Tamara.
Check the source: If the label is unclear or missing, ask the retailer or the supplier where the dates are from and how they are produced. If they are unable or unwilling to provide this information, do not buy them.
Check the alternative: Look for dates that are from other countries, such as Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Iran, Pakistan, or Saudi Arabia. These dates are often cheaper, fresher, and more ethical than the Israeli ones. You can also look for dates that are certified as organic, fair trade, or Palestinian, such as Zaytoun, Yaffa, or Nakheel Palestine.

Conclusion

Medjool dates are a delicious and nutritious fruit that everyone can enjoy. However, when buying these dates, you should be cautious and aware of their origin and production of them, and the impact they have on the Palestinian people and the environment. By boycotting Israeli dates and supporting alternative sources, you can make a difference and show solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Israeli settlement

References

(1) Global major fruit dates exporters in 2022 | Statista https://www.statista.com/statistics/961359/global-leading-exporters-of-dates/#:~:text=Leading%20exporters%20of%20dates%20worldwide%20in%202022&text=In%202022%2C%20Israel%20was%20the,dollars%20of%20date%20fruit%20exports.

(2) Medjool Dates From Israel Wastewater Proving Favorite of Foodies https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2013-11-20/medjool-dates-from-israel-wastewater-proving-favorite-of-foodies

(3) Hadiklaim – About Us. https://www.hadiklaim.com/about-us.
(4) Boycotting Israeli dates is working and we need to keep going. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/4/24/boycotting-israeli-dates-is-working-and-we-need-to-keep-going/.
(5) Think Palestine: Boycott Israeli Dates this Ramadan! – IHRC. https://www.ihrc.org.uk/boycott-israeli-dates/.
(6) Checking the label: a guide to boycotting Israeli dates. https://www.palestinecampaign.org/checkthelabel/.