Dates
Dates suppliers and sourcing guide
Dates are the fruit of the date palm (Phoenix dactylifera), grown mainly in the Middle East, North Africa and the deserts of California and Arizona. The fruit is cured on the palm or after harvest, then sorted, cleaned and packed whole, pitted, chopped or ground. Food makers mostly buy pitted dates, diced dates rolled in oat or rice flour, date paste, and dried date powder or sugar.
- Category
- Food staples and powders
- Also known as
- Phoenix dactylifera · date fruit · Medjool dates · Deglet Noor dates · date paste
- Facts checked
- November 2026
Forms and grades of dates
Suppliers sell different products under the same name. Specify the one you need.
Whole and pitted dates
Varieties such as Medjool and Deglet Noor, sold by grade and size; pitted dates may carry a small allowance for pits and pit fragments.
Diced or chopped dates
Pieces cut to a set size and usually dusted with oat flour, rice flour or dextrose so they do not stick together.
Date paste
Macerated pitted dates, sometimes with water or hydration, used as a binder and sweetener in bars and fillings.
Date powder (date sugar)
Dried, ground whole dates; it is not a refined sugar and does not dissolve fully.
Organic
Dates from certified organic groves, common for Medjool and Deglet Noor.
What to check on the COA
Compare each result with your own specification when the lot arrives.
- Moisture
- Moisture by oven or a dried fruit moisture tester; it sets texture and shelf life and differs a lot by variety.
- Pits and pit fragments
- Count or weight of pits and fragments in pitted, diced and paste products, a key safety and quality check.
- Defects and foreign material
- Insect damage, mold, souring, stems and extraneous matter, judged against the buyer's spec or the USDA grade.
- Microbiology
- Total plate count, yeast and mold, coliforms, E. coli and Salmonella.
- Sugars
- Total sugars or Brix, useful when dates replace added sugar in a formula.
Storage, lots and expiry
Storage and shelf life
Store dates cool and dry in sealed cartons or liners; refrigeration slows darkening, sugar crystallization on the skin, and insect activity. Date paste is held chilled or as specified by the supplier. Shelf life follows the supplier's spec for the format and storage temperature.
Lots and expiry dates
Moisture, color, size and sugar bloom vary with variety, crop year and time in storage, so record variety and origin per lot. Check pit counts on every lot of pitted or diced dates, and rotate first-expiring lots first (FEFO).
Regulatory status
Facts from regulators and standards bodies, each linked to its source.
USDA's U.S. Standards for Grades of Dates define the styles whole, pitted, pieces and macerated, where macerated dates are ground, chopped, mashed or broken.
Source: ams.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)Under USDA's date grade standards, U.S. Grade A (U.S. Fancy) whole or pitted dates must score not less than 90 points.
Source: ams.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)USDA's date grade standards provide a U.S. Grade B (Dry) for whole dry dates for processing, meaning dates that are dry and have not been softened by hydration.
Source: ams.usda.gov (opens in a new tab)
This is general information, not regulatory advice. Status differs by country and by how the ingredient is used, so check the rules for your product and market.
Dates suppliers
Manufacturers and distributors whose own websites say they sell it.
We are checking dates suppliers now
Every listing is checked against the supplier’s own website before it goes live, so this list fills in over the coming weeks. The specs and COA checklist above are ready today.
Sell dates? Request a listingFrequently asked questions
What forms of dates can brands buy?
Common forms include whole and pitted dates, diced or chopped dates, date paste, date powder (date sugar) and organic. Ask each supplier for the specification sheet of the exact grade they quote.
What should the COA for dates include?
Expect moisture, pits and pit fragments, defects and foreign material, microbiology and sugars, each with its method, specification and result for that lot.
How should dates be stored?
Store dates cool and dry in sealed cartons or liners; refrigeration slows darkening, sugar crystallization on the skin, and insect activity. Date paste is held chilled or as specified by the supplier. Shelf life follows the supplier's spec for the format and storage temperature.
What is the regulatory status of dates?
USDA's U.S. Standards for Grades of Dates define the styles whole, pitted, pieces and macerated, where macerated dates are ground, chopped, mashed or broken. Under USDA's date grade standards, U.S. Grade A (U.S. Fancy) whole or pitted dates must score not less than 90 points. USDA's date grade standards provide a U.S. Grade B (Dry) for whole dry dates for processing, meaning dates that are dry and have not been softened by hydration.
More food staples and powders
- Cocoa powderCocoa · Cacao powder
- Chocolate liquorCocoa liquor · Cocoa mass
- Cocoa nibsCacao nibs · Cracked cocoa
- Roasted coffeeCoffea arabica · Coffea canephora
- Instant coffeeSoluble coffee · Instant coffee powder
- MatchaMatcha green tea powder · Powdered green tea
- Black teaCamellia sinensis · Thea sinensis
- Nonfat dry milkNFDM · Skim milk powder
- Whole milk powderDry whole milk · WMP
- Sweet whey powderDry sweet whey · Dried whey
- Buttermilk powderDry buttermilk · Dried sweet cream buttermilk
- Dried whole eggDried eggs · Whole egg powder
Sell ingredients to brands?
Request a free listing for the ingredients you make or distribute. No paid placement.