Bard Valley Natural Delights Continues to Expand

Bard Valley Natural Delights has increased its organic acreage this year, continuing its emphasis on catering to the demands of the organic industry, providing sustainable and healthy options for consumers.

“We have increased our organic Medjool date tree groves to expand in the organic fresh produce category,” said Bridgette Weber, trade marketing manager for the Yuma, Arizona-based company. “This enables us to meet the rising demand for organic Medjool dates while maintaining high-quality standards.”

Bridgette Weber, Trade Marketing Manager, Bard Valley Natural Dates

Grown in Bard Valley along the Colorado River, considered an ideal microclimate for dates by the experts, the company’s premium Medjool dates are a pure and wholesome superfood picked straight off the tree at the peak of ripeness.

“We have increased our organic Medjool date tree groves to expand in the organic fresh produce category. This enables us to meet the rising demand for organic Medjool dates while maintaining high-quality standards.” - Bridgette Weber

With household penetration standing at just over 8 percent, the date category’s potential remains untapped.

“To drive wider adoption, educating consumers about the health benefits of dates is essential,” Weber said. “From being nutrient rich to aiding digestion, dates offer a wholesome alternative to sugary snacks. Introducing innovative date products can further capture a broader audience’s interest. Combining education and innovation can lead to a date revolution, elevating this exceptional fruit to the forefront of healthy living.”

Natural Delights shipper

This year, the company unveiled a new shipper at the 2023 Organic Produce Summit, which complements its organic product line, and the company is gearing up for its annual Harvest Tour.

“Each fall, we invite retailers, influencers, dietitians, and a diverse range of guests to Yuma, to experience our Medjool date harvest firsthand,” Weber said. “This experience allows guests to climb date palms, sort dates on the production line, savor a date-inspired menu, and witness the passion behind each date.”

“To drive wider adoption, educating consumers about the health benefits of dates is essential.” - Bridgette Weber

The genesis of the company dates back to 1944 when nine date palms survived out of the original 11 transplanted from Morocco. Six of these surviving Medjool palms, known as "the original six," were later moved to Bard Valley, California.

Natural Delights organic  Medjool date product offerings

“This marked the beginning of the largest Medjool date-growing region in the United States,” Weber said. “Most Medjool date palms in the southwest US can be traced back to these original six offshoots.”

As demand for Medjool dates grew, new growers joined, leading to expansion of the industry. In 2002, Datepac was established to pack and ship dates with unified quality standards. With increasing demand, the Natural Delights brand was created to better communicate the benefits of Bard Valley's Medjool dates to customers.

Natural Delights date shake popsicles

“Our philosophy at Natural Delights revolves around inspiring healthy habits globally,” Weber said. “As we aim to become a household brand, innovation and product excellence are our driving forces. Our mission is to encourage people of all ages to savor the goodness of Natural Delights on any occasion.”

“Most Medjool date palms in the southwest US can be traced back to these original six offshoots.” - Bridgette Weber

As is the case for all companies in the produce industry, Bard Valley does have its fair share of challenges.

“The unpredictability of Mother Nature makes it difficult to anticipate the exact crop outcome, underscoring the significance of our sorting and quality specifications,” Weber said. “These measures play a pivotal role in upholding consistency for our valued partners.”