Martha’s Gardens vs Desert Sun Dates: Yuma Farm Tour or Coachella Valley Farm-Direct?

Martha’s Gardens is the farm to visit if you want to see American Medjool country up close — a family Medjool operation in Yuma, Arizona, known for farm tours, a store, and (yes) a very good date shake. It’s a real farm run by real growers, and we tip our hat to anyone who hand-harvests Medjool in a Yuma summer.

We’re a smaller family farm one valley west, in Sky Valley, California, built around one idea: ship our own crop directly to the person eating it.

We grow these. Golden Zahidi Dates — Nutty, Less Sweet, Never Sticky | California Farm-Direct from our family farm in Sky Valley, California — from $15/lb, shipping included. See them →

What Martha’s Gardens does well

The visit. Tours through the grove, fruit at the source, the farm store — if you’re in Yuma or wintering nearby, it’s the right kind of afternoon.

What farm-direct from us looks like

No tour bus required. Jumbo Medjool from $19, down to $9.83/lb by the 12 lb box, golden Zahidi from $15, seasonal Barhi by waitlist — whole, pit-in, packed to order, shipped within days, shipping included to the lower 48. For markets, restaurants and masjids, bulk cases run $9.00–$9.50/lb freight included at posted prices, and Ramadan 2027 pre-orders are open.

The honest verdict

Two family farms, two models. In Yuma, visit theirs. Everywhere else, ours arrives at your door days after it leaves the cold room. More on the region: our honest guide to Arizona dates.

Written by Jason Shopshear of Desert Sun Dates, Sky Valley, California.