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Submitted to: Book Chapter
Publication Type: Book / Chapter Publication Acceptance Date: 12/31/2014 Publication Date: 4/4/2015 Citation: Krueger, R. 2015. Date palm status and perspective in the United States. In: Al-Khayri, J.M., Jain, S.M., Johnson, D.V., editors. Date palm genetic resources and utilization. Volume 1: Africa and the Americas. New York, NY: Springer. p. 447-485. Interpretive Summary: industry developed using imported varieties in the early years of the 20th century. Due to its specific climatic requirements, date production in the US is confined to the low elevation desert areas in California and Arizona. Date production has centered in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County, California, but has recently expanded into the Bard Valley of Imperial County, California, and Yuma County, California. The dominant cultivar is ‘Deglet Noor’ but recent plantings are primarily ‘Medjool’ and this is becoming the dominant economic cultivar. The US industry is highly mechanized compared to the date industry in most other countries. The primary use of dates produced in the US is fresh consumption but small amounts of processed products are also produced. Production practices, handling, and research activities are also discussed. Technical Abstract: The date industry in the United States is small in comparison with that of many other date-producing countries. The US does not have any indigenous date palm (Phoneix dactylifera L) germplasm, so the industry developed using imported varieties in the early years of the 20th century. Due to its specific climatic requirements, date production in the US is confined to the low elevation desert areas in California and Arizona. Date production has centered in the Coachella Valley of Riverside County, California, but has recently expanded into the Bard Valley of Imperial County, California, and Yuma County, California. The dominant cultivar is ‘Deglet Noor’ but recent plantings are primarily ‘Medjool’ and this is becoming the dominant economic cultivar. The US industry is highly mechanized compared to the date industry in most other countries. The primary use of dates produced in the US is fresh consumption but small amounts of processed products are also produced. Production practices, handling, and research activities are also discussed. |
