Frequently Asked Questions...
What is the country of origin of dates from SunDate?
SunDate is owned by a partnership of two families that have deep roots in agriculture in the Coachella Valley of California. All of the dates that we process, package and sell are grown in the Coachella Valley...the vast majority coming from farms owned by those two families. Our SunDate brand is mostly sold in the United States but can also be found in select countries around the world that demand premium quality dates.
Are SunDate dates allergen-free?
Dates are hypoallergenic and SunDate's facility is allergen-free. None of the major allergens defined by the FDA, including milk, eggs, nuts, fish, crustaceans, shellfish, wheat, soy and sesame, are allowed in our facility. No additives or treatments of any kind are used on our whole and pitted date products and we don't mix them with any other foods or food ingredients.
Are dates genetically modified (GMO)?
No, dates have never been genetically modified. Date palms used for commercial agricultural production are always grown from cuttings, rather than from pits/seeds, and can trace their origins from a single ancient date palm specific to their commercial variety. Date palms grown from pits/seeds will produce dates with unpredictably different flavor, color and texture characteristics...or no dates at all.
How should I store my dates?
While our dates typically have very good shelf stability and can usually be kept at ambient temperatures for up to three months, we recommend refrigeration to ensure maximum quality. From the day of packaging, they are guaranteed for one year if kept under refrigeration. For longer periods of storage, we suggest freezing. Frozen dates thaw back to normal quite nicely. If your dates seem dry after refrigerated or frozen storage, put a few at a time in a moist paper towel and microwave them for 10 seconds or so to help bring them back to a moist/soft state.
Do my dates need to be rinsed?
Our growing, harvesting, storage and packing processes are designed to minimize the chances of contamination and include an organic certified clean water rinse just prior to packaging. While it shouldn't be necessary to rinse them prior to consuming, it is good practice to do so. It will not damage the fruit in any way.
Why are there white sugar crystals on my dates?
When dates lose moisture, water and sugar transfer through the skin of the dates. As the surface water evaporates, white sugar crystals can be left behind. These sugar crystals can be quickly rinsed off with water prior to consumption and pose no hazard.