There are over 3000 varieties of dates worldwide. Morocco is home to over 100 of them. In the Drâa-Tafilalet region, a region known for its Berber villages, there are over 45 different kinds of dates. The city of Erfoud is Morocco’s largest producer of dates and hosts the Guetna Date Festival annually. The festival is held to promote agriculture in the south. In 2018, the festival took place at the end of October. Southern Morocco has a hot desert climate and dates thrive in the region with ease.
Dates play a role in traditional Moroccan cooking, culture, and religious ceremonies. During Ramadan, the end of a day’s fast is broken with three sips of water and a date. This marks the beginning of an Iftar “Break Fast.” In the Story of Genesis within the Quaran, the date palm tree is recorded as the “Tree of Life.”
Demand for dates in Morocco is high and the country has recently made headlines as the top importer of Tunisian dates. From the period of October 1, 2018, to September 30, 2019, a total of 33,000 tons of imported Tunisian dates were accounted for by Morocco. The next-largest importer of Tunisian dates is Spain. The neighboring country purchased 9,500 tons of Tunisian dates in the past year.
In addition to imports, Morocco is also a major date producer. As part of the Kingdom’s goal to boost the agricultural economy, the North African country set a goal of reaching an annual production of 160,000 tons by 2020. This is a large contrast from 90,000 tons, the number it was at in 2010. To meet this goal, King Mohammed VI’s Green Plan has included developing date palms and expanding the Tafilalt area by 17,000 hectares. The focus on palm cultivation has boosted incomes for Morocco’s households. As of November 1, 2017, more than 12,000 jobs were created due to these developments.
Moroccan dates vary according to size, color, and texture. The Drâa-Tafilalet region, situated in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco has some of the most delicious kinds of dates. The region is divided into five provinces: Errachidia Province, Ouarzazate Province, Midelt Province, Tinghir Province, and Zagora Province.
Dates can be handpicked and found in local markets for sale in these areas year-round. Three of the most popular Moroccan dates are the Medjool, a large soft fruit, with orange-yellowish flesh and intense caramel taste; the Anbra Madina Date, which is large in size with a unique rectangular shape and a red color; and the Deglet Noor date, is thick in flesh, light red to amber in color, and sweet and slightly pithy. Dates contain many vitamins, minerals, and are considered to be healthy.