Dates are one of the sweetest fruits on the planet. They are a significant traditional crop in Arabia, Iraq, and north Africa to Morocco. This fruit is also mentioned over 50 times in the Bible and around 20 times in the Qur’an. Dates (especially Deglet Noor and Medjool) are also cultivated in the U.S.A. in southern Florida, southern California, and Arizona and in Baja California and Sonora in Mexico.
In Islamic culture, dates and milk or yogurt are traditionally the 1st food eaten for Iftar after the sun has set during the popular holiday Ramadan. In Christian-orthodox culture, dates are usually consumed on the night before Christmas as a part of the celebration dinner.