Why date palm industry fares so well in Jordan

The local variety is called Medjool and it is harvested on all markets and in all the world’s early markets. Tasty and fleshy, it is grown in Jordan, Palestine, or neighboring regions, and is attracting more and more attention from investors. It became a truly strategic national product.

An important economic issue

A godsend for countries and their populations, who see in the export of dates real economic opportunities. France alone imports several thousand tonnes a year and is the first European importer with the U.K. as a close second according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations… In the Middle East, for example, they are betting heavily on the cultivation of dates. In Jordan, for example, date cultivation covers more than 8,600 hectares (for about 550,000 date palms) and employs some 8,000 people.

This is a significant part of the economy and one that is also concerned about women’s employment since women account for no less than 35% of the sector’s employees. Moreover, its cultivation and harvesting period differs from that of dates in the countries of the Arabian Gulf, which enables seasonal workers to find employment over longer periods.

Virtues and special features

In addition to its unique texture and taste, the Medjool date owes its success to various properties that are highly valued by consumers. First of all, it is easier to digest than its cousins. Secondly, it does not contain disaccharides (a type of sugar) and therefore does not raise blood sugar levels too much. On the other hand, it is full of healthy nutrients such as potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, vitamins, and manganese. Undeniably, the Medjool date has a bright future ahead of it…