If you want to buy California dates, here is everything worth knowing in one place — written by the family that grows them. We are Desert Sun Dates, a working date farm in Sky Valley, in California’s Coachella Valley, where the overwhelming majority of dates grown in the United States are produced. We hand-harvest, pack on the ranch, and ship the current season’s crop directly to your door, with shipping included in every price to the lower 48 states.

Where California Dates Come From

Nearly all dates grown in the United States come from one place: the Coachella Valley of Southern California. The desert climate — intense dry heat, cool nights, and irrigation from deep wells — is one of the only environments in the country where date palms fruit reliably. Our farm sits in Sky Valley, on the eastern edge of the valley, where we grow three varieties across roughly 200 palms. When you buy California dates from us, you are buying fruit grown within a few miles of where the American date industry itself began.

The Three California Date Varieties We Grow

Most buyers know Medjool, but California grows several distinct varieties, each with its own texture and use. Here is how ours compare:

  • Medjool — large, soft, and caramel-sweet. The most popular eating date, excellent for snacking, stuffing, and baking. Shop Medjool →
  • Zahidi — firm, golden, and mildly sweet with a nutty note. Sometimes called the “bread date.” Holds its shape in cooking. Learn about Zahidi →
  • Barhi — honey-sweet and prized for its golden color, sold fresh in a short season. Learn about Barhi →

California Date Prices

Our whole California dates are sold in boxes from 1 to 12 pounds, with shipping always included in the price. Per-pound cost drops as the box gets larger:

  • 1 lb — $19 ($19.00 per pound, delivered)
  • 3 lbs — $40 ($13.33 per pound)
  • 6 lbs — $67 ($11.17 per pound)
  • 9 lbs — $93 ($10.33 per pound)
  • 12 lbs — $118 ($9.83 per pound — our best value)

Every price above is the delivered price. There is no separate shipping charge added at checkout for the lower 48 states.

Fresh, Farm-Direct, and Current-Season

Here is the difference between buying California dates from a grower versus a store. Retail dates typically pass through a packer and a distributor and can sit in cold storage for months before they reach a shelf. Ours do not. We harvest by hand, freeze the crop at peak ripeness to lock in flavor, and ship the current season’s dates directly from the ranch. You are getting this year’s harvest, not last year’s inventory, with no preservatives and no added sugar.

Are California Dates Organic?

Our dates are grown without the sprays and treatments common in large commercial operations — they are a natural, single-ingredient fruit with nothing added. We are a small family farm rather than a certified-organic industrial operation, so we describe our fruit as naturally grown and farm-direct rather than using the “certified organic” label.

Buying California Dates in Bulk

Our larger boxes — 9 and 12 pounds — are popular with families, bakers, caterers, and anyone gifting dates for the holidays. Because per-pound cost drops with size, the 12 lb box at $9.83 per pound delivered is the most economical way to buy California dates online.

Where to Buy California Dates Near You

We ship nationwide, and we have local buying guides for communities across Southern California:

Frequently Asked Questions About Buying California Dates

Where are California dates grown?

Nearly all California dates are grown in the Coachella Valley of Southern California, the desert region that produces the overwhelming majority of dates in the United States. Our farm is in Sky Valley, on the eastern edge of the valley.

What is the best California date variety?

Medjool is the most popular for eating and gifting because it is large, soft, and caramel-sweet. Zahidi is firmer and better for cooking, and Barhi is a honey-sweet variety sold fresh in a short season. The best variety depends on whether you want a snacking date (Medjool), a cooking date (Zahidi), or a seasonal specialty (Barhi).

How much do California dates cost?

Our California dates range from $19 for a 1 lb box to $118 for a 12 lb box, shipping included. The per-pound price drops from $19 to about $9.83 as the box size increases.

Are California dates fresh or dried?

California dates like Medjool are whole, naturally soft fruit — not artificially dried and not sugar-coated. They are naturally lower in moisture than a just-picked yellow date, which gives them a rich, caramel-like texture and a long shelf life.

Can you buy California dates directly from the farm?

Yes. We are a family farm that sells our dates directly to customers online and ships them nationwide, with shipping included. Buying farm-direct means fresher fruit and no distributor markup.

Ready to Buy California Dates?

Start with our farm-direct Medjool, or explore Zahidi and Barhi. Every order ships fresh from the ranch with shipping included.

Shop California dates now →