California Date Industry Prepares for Tight 2026

California’s date industry is entering the 2026 season with a smaller crop, heightened sorting costs and a tighter-than-usual market, but the category’s long-term outlook remains strong thanks to rising consumer interest in clean-label foods and natural sweeteners. 

That’s the message from the California Date Commission and its executive director, Kristy Kneiding, who noted growers remain focused on quality, research and year-round consumer education.

The California Date Commission represents all growers and packers in the Coachella Valley, the sole commercial date-growing region in the U.S. As Kneiding explained, the organization operates as a non-profit funded by the industry and works across marketing, research and government affairs. 

“Our mandate is to support every grower in the Valley through efforts that build the category as a whole—not individual brands,” she said.

California remains the country’s undisputed leader in date production, responsible for approximately 98 percent of all U.S. volume. While final 2025–26 numbers are still being tallied, state and federal datasets show the industry typically produces between 40 and 50 million pounds annually. Early projections for the 2026 season suggest yields will fall below that range due to weather impacts.

“Early fall storms had a greater impact on the 2025 harvest than initially estimated,” Kneiding said. “There will be additional sorting and cleaning needed to ensure a quality product. This year’s crop came in smaller than anticipated, and we expect a tight market by mid-summer.”

Despite that, California dates are well-positioned in the marketplace for 2026. The commission continues its long-standing investment in field research, especially pest management and food-safety studies, to ensure the stability and quality of the fruit. 

As a Federal Marketing Order commodity, California dates must meet stringent inspection standards—one of the key differences separating them from imported product. The Coachella Valley’s ideal soils, arid climate and highly skilled farm workforce further distinguish the state’s fruit.

Medjool and Deglet Noor remain the dominant commercial varieties. Medjools, the industry’s flagship date, deliver a rich, caramel-forward sweetness and soft texture, making them popular for snacking, cheese and meat pairings, and both sweet and savory dishes. Deglet Noor dates offer a firmer bite and more moderate sweetness and are widely used in baking, blending and date-paste applications. 

Specialty varieties—including Barhi, Halawy, Zahidi, and Khadrawy—still appear primarily in farmers’ markets and limited retail programs.

While the U.S. date category sees predictable spikes during Ramadan, year-round usage is where the commission is seeing the greatest growth. 

“Today’s consumers see dates as an everyday pantry staple,” Kneiding said. “They show up in snacking, smoothies, cooking and baking, and even cocktails and mocktails. And increasingly, they are used in manufactured products as a natural alternative to refined sugar.”

That aligns well with the category’s strongest consumer-facing messages: dates are a whole fruit with no added sugar; they fit clean-label and sugar-conscious diets; and they provide natural energy and micronutrients. 

The commission amplifies this through nutrition-focused digital content, a comprehensive Health & Nutrition Guide and an extensive recipe library developed with chefs, registered dietitians, and culinary-medicine experts. Partnerships with the American Diabetes Association and the American Heart Association further reinforce that California dates meet modern wellness priorities.

Throughout 2026, opportunities stem from cultural-crossover usage, continued wellness trends and the ability to tie dates to seasonal stories—from back-to-school snacks to summer entertaining. 

With a lighter crop expected though and demand holding strong, the commission is doubling down on unified messaging and industry-wide research to ensure retailers and consumers recognize the value of buying closer to home and supporting American date farmers all year long.