Organic Farming
The proliferation of organic products brings up the question. What is organic farming? Two types of farming are commonly practiced. Industrial-style intensive agriculture in which the use of pesticides and fertilizers or organic farming in which pesticides and fertilizers are foregone and instead use manure and other non-chemically intensive ways of growing crops. When it comes to organic, dates in general are an excellent test case of the quality that organic can provide. Let's take a deep dive into organic Barhi dates.
The Barhi Date Journey
The distinctive yellow Barhi is lauded for its unique tart taste and crunchy texture, but the unique way in which Barhi is cultivated and brought to your table makes it more amazing. When running an organic farm, the reality is it is a labor-intensive process. Without access to chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the use of livestock manure and other organic methods means labor costs tend to be higher. This labor process begins with the planting of Barhi date shoots which are the shoots that grow around a date palm. Those shoots otherwise known as “suckers” are removed and planted separately so they can grow into a mature palm.
Coachella Valley
A distinctive reason why the Coachella Valley became known as the valley of California dates is because of the unique climate and topography of this region. The desert terrain is remarkably like the Middle East. high temperatures and water aquifers deep underground allow the valley to plentifully produce dates such that over 90% of dates grown in the United States are from the Coachella Valley.
Organic Certification
To be a certified organic grower, the process is meticulous. In California, we work with California Certified Organic Farmers (CCOF) by applying for an Organic System Plan (OSP) so an inspector can come to review whether your farm is following organic farming standards, which are repeated annually. After this process is completed and you are approved as an organic producer, you can legally label your produce as organic. The benefits for consumers are immense. The regulatory body allows for a robust system to confirm that fruit is organic, which aids in providing a significantly healthier option to buyers.
