Fresh Dates in Providence & Rhode Island — Shipped Farm-Direct From California

Rhode Island is about as far from a date palm as America gets — which is exactly why most dates sold there are warehouse fruit that’s been traveling, in one sense or another, for months. There’s a shorter route: a farm ships you this season’s crop directly. We’re Desert Sun Dates, a family farm in California’s Coachella Valley, and a box reaches Providence, Pawtucket, Cranston, Warwick or anywhere in Rhode Island in 3–4 days, straight from our cold room.

Who buys dates in Rhode Island

More people than you’d guess. Providence’s Muslim community buys dates by the case every Ramadan — iftar starts with a date, every night for a month (our masjid bulk guide is here, and Ramadan 2027 pre-orders are open). The East Side’s Jewish community puts dates on the table for Rosh Hashanah and Tu B’Shvat — they’re one of the Seven Species. And a lot of boxes simply go to people who eat a date with coffee every afternoon and got tired of $13/lb grocery fruit that’s dry by the bottom of the tub.

What arrives

Jumbo Medjool — large, soft, caramel-sweet, whole with the pit in (that’s the freshness seal). From $19, down to $9.83/lb by the 12 lb box.

Golden Zahidi — firm, nutty, less sweet; the baking date. From $15.

For markets, cafés and restaurants: bulk cases from 24 to 100 lb, $9.00–$9.50/lb with freight already included, posted prices and no negotiating games. One harvest a year — when the cold room empties, that’s it until next September.

New England neighbors: we also wrote a Boston page.

Written by Jason Shopshear, who grows Medjool, Zahidi and Barhi dates at Desert Sun Dates in Sky Valley, California. Questions before you order: (760) 501-1845.