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Dates ... Nuts ... Apricots ... Pitted Prunes ... Calimyrna Figs

Dates
     People often ask us, "Do all these dates really taste different?" And we always answer with a resounding "YES!" Each variety of date not only has its own distinctive taste, but also its own distinctive texture, sweetness and size. When properly stored, dates keep exceedingly well. Stored in airtight containers and kept in the refrigerator, dates will stay moist and delicious for as long as 30 days. Dates can also be kept frozen for up to a year with no loss of taste or quality.

Of the several geographic areas in which date gardens thrive, the Bard Valley, 150 miles southeast of Palm Springs, has proven to be on the most nurturing. The nutrient-rich soil, from centuries of Colorado River flooding, infuses the Medjool with unmatched richness.

Large, perfect and beautiful, Hadley Bard Valley Medjools are descendants of those eleven original royal plants. With a rich mahogany color and soft texture, it is the true connoisseur's date for both gift giving and personal enjoyment.

Date Varieties

Medjool
The Medjool is called the "King of Dates". Large, perfect and beautiful, our Medjools have a rich mahogany color and a soft texture. It is a true connoisseur's date for gift giving and personal enjoyment.

Barhi
You will know this date by its almost perfectly round shape. A soft, dark amber date - its flesh is thick, smooth, soft and translucent, and its flavor is rich. It is also called the "Honeyball" for its sweet, creamy texture.

Deglet Noor
The Deglet is a medium firm date with a rich caramel color; not as sweet as the soft dates. It stores very well and is as good for cooking as it is for eating.

Khadrawi
A medium sweet date that is dark mahogany in color, with flesh that looks dry but is actually very soft. The texture has been described as "like pudding".

Honey
This date has the taste, color and texture of rich honey and is excellent for a quick burst of natural sugar energy. Also, it is a wonderful dessert day.

Abbada or Black Date
This date is black in color, very sweet and creamy; so creamy it melts in your mouth. It is a rare delicacy.

Golden Princess
This date variety is elongated, amber in color, and chewy. It's known for it's mild, traditional date flavor. This date is also called the "Halawy".
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Nutritional Facts

Dates not only taste great, they're great for you! A serving of five or six average California dates contain about 20 calories each and are a good source of fiber, potassium, vitamins, minerals and carbohydrates, without the sodium or fat found in other snacks. A serving of dates helps fulfill the "2 to 4 servings of fruit and vegetables a day" guideline of the USDA's "Food Pyramid".

Fiber
A serving of dates provides approximately 14% of the USDA Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) of fiber, which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain cancers.

Potassium
Eating dates and drinking water is an ideal, natural way to replenish the body's need for potassium. One serving of dates contains about 240 milligrams of potassium, or 7% of the RDA, of this essential nutrient. In fact, weight for weight, dates contain more potassium than do bananas.

Vitamins and Minerals
Dates contain a variety of B-complex vitamins. They contain thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-6 and pantothenic acid. These vitamins have a variety of functions that help maintain healthy bodies.

Carbohydrates
A serving of dates contains about 31 grams of carbohydrates, making them a powerhouse of energy. The carbohydrates found in dates, include about three grams of dietary fiber and about 3 grams of naturally occurring sugars, such as sucrose, fructose, and glucose. These carbohydrates provide quick energy and are readily assimilated into, and used by, the body. This makes dates a perfect choice as an energy-boosting snack.

Nuts
     Nuts are among the world's oldest foods, first gathered from the wild then cultivated in ancient Greece as early as 300 B.C. They are a good source of protein and contain significant amounts of vitamins and minerals. In some diets, moderate amounts of nuts are used as a healthy alternative to meat. Did you know these "nutty" facts?

Almonds belong to the same family as roses -- along with apricots, cherries, peaches and plums. The almond fruit is shaped like an elongated peach with fuzzy green skin. When mature, the fruit's hull splits apart to reveal the almond shell which holds the nut. An ages-old symbol of good luck, one ounce of almonds contains 75 mg. of calcium (more than milk), .74 grams of fiber (more than carrots), 6 grams of protein, and no cholesterol.

Pistachio trees take from seven to ten years to mature and about twenty years to become fully productive.

Cashews come from a tropical evergreen that is related to the mango, the pistachio and the smoke tree.

Macadamia nuts were discovered in 1857 in the subtropical rainforest of Queensland, Australia, and have the hardest shell of any nut.
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Apricots
     A fruit of ancient lineage, apricots, are higher in nutrients than almost any other fruit. And once dried their nutritional value multiplies -- they are high in vitamin A and potassium, are an excellent source of fiber and have the lowest calorie count of any dried fruit.
It takes six pounds of tree-ripened fresh fruit to make just one pound of dried apricots. They are hand-picked, then washed, pitted and halved. After a light sulfuring process to preserve nutrients and color, and several days of sun drying, they're ready for snacking, mixing in granola or trail mix, or as a tasty addition to your favorite recipes.
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