Dry steppes

The initial impetus for the organic dates project in Algeria led us to Biskra a few years ago, a city situated at an oasis in the north-eastern Sahara in Algeria. There, in the midst of dry steppes there are vast expanses of land on which magnificent date palms flourish.

MorgenLand has been working with growers in Biskra since 2013 on one of the most popular date varieties, the “Deglet Nour”. These are characterised in particular by their golden colour. When held up to the sun, the sweet fruit pulp of the thumb-sized date is almost transparent, and the contours of the long pit with pointed ends can be easily distinguished.

Cultivation, harvesting & processing

The date plantations of the MorgenLand cultivation project were organically certified with the support of Project Manager Kees Maris. In parts, up to 2500 real palms stand ten metres apart in Algeria’s date fields. They grow between 15 to 20 metres high and bear fruit for up to a century. Every two years the palms’ pollinated flowers bear new dates.

The fruits dry in the simmering heat of the desert sun while still on the branch. As soon as the drying phase is over, the very hard dates are harvested by hand and then transported in crates to the processing facility located in Biskra. There, they are first sorted by size, degree of drying and further criteria before they are washed and sprinkled with drinking water until the desired moisture content has been reached. The dates are then pitted by hand. This method of processing and in particular the moistening of the dried raw goods gives the Deglet Nour dates their especially soft consistency.

“The bread of the desert”

Due to their high nutrient concentration, dates were counted as a staple foodstuff as far back as 5000 years ago, and this is also the case today, particularly in the East. That is why they are also known as “the bread of the desert”. Not only can the sweet honey caramel date fruit pulp be used as an important food product and energy source, but in the desert the date pits are also trampled down, mixed with a small amount of water and used as animal food. Dates are characterised not only by their high number of vitamins and trace elements, but also by their significance in human history. Due to its consistent blooming and very diverse uses, the date palm is considered to be a tree of life in the Bible, and has become a symbol of resurrection. Dates also enjoy an important role in Islam. During the fasting period of Ramadan, Muslims break their fast after sunset with a date and a glass of water, as the Prophet Muhammad purportedly recommended.

“Deglet Nour” – Finger of Light

When looking at their rich level of nutrients, it is not surprising that dates have enjoyed such a significant role in various stages of history. The date variety “Deglet Nour”, which when translated means “finger of light”, got its name due to its particularly soft, almost transparent fruit pulp and its full-bodied sweet flavour. With its vitamins and mineral nutrients, it is a highly effective combined energy source.