Why Are Dates Suddenly Everywhere, and What Does It Mean for Sugar?
The humble date has become a food industry juggernaut. Discover why dates are in everything now, from snacks to sweeteners, and how it impacts your grocery bill
By Foodie Pundit Newsroom - Published - Updated - Section: Food Prices
Key points
- The date's rise is driven by consumer demand for 'natural' alternatives to refined sugar, allowing brands to charge a premium.
- Date farming is water and labor-intensive, particularly in California, which adds significant cost before the fruit is even processed.
- Food manufacturers are increasingly using processed date products like paste and syrup to improve the nutritional and marketing appeal of their products.
- Global date production is dominated by the Middle East and North Africa, but access to high-value export markets is controlled by a few large players.
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Sources and methodology
Reported from the public datasets below.
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