Quick answer: The best Medjool dates to buy in the USA are plump, glossy and slightly wrinkled, graded Large, Jumbo or Super Jumbo, with a clear origin and harvest year on the label. Expect to pay roughly $10 to $20 per pound depending on grade and origin. California grows most domestic Medjool, while imported Palestinian and Saudi Medjool offer different textures and are increasingly available online with direct delivery.
Understanding Medjool grades
Medjool dates in the US are sorted by size and skin condition. The common grades, from largest to smallest, are Super Jumbo, Jumbo, Large and Medium. A second classification, often called Fancy or Choice, refers to how smooth and intact the skin is. Jumbo Fancy is the sweet spot for gifting and eating out of hand; Medium or Choice grades are perfectly good for baking, blending and date paste, and are usually cheaper.
Domestic vs imported Medjool
California and Arizona Medjool
Most Medjool sold in American supermarkets comes from the Coachella Valley in California and the Bard Valley around Yuma, Arizona. Harvest runs from late August to October, and fruit is cold-stored for year-round sale. Domestic Medjool is reliable and widely available, with a mild caramel flavour.
Palestinian Medjool from Jericho
Grown below sea level in the Jordan Valley, Jericho Medjool is prized for very large fruit and a dense, fudge-like flesh. It is less common on US shelves but easy to order online from specialist importers.
Saudi Medjool
Newer to the market, Saudi Medjool is slightly firmer with a bright, honeyed sweetness. It is often the earliest fresh-season Medjool of the year.
| Origin | Texture | Flavour | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|---|
| California / Arizona | Soft, moderately chewy | Mild caramel | Supermarkets, farm shops |
| Palestine (Jericho) | Very soft, dense | Deep caramel | Online importers, Middle Eastern grocers |
| Saudi Arabia | Soft, slightly firmer | Honeyed, bright | Online importers |
How to check freshness
- Skin: glossy with light wrinkling. Deep, dry wrinkles or flaking skin mean the dates have lost moisture.
- White spots: harmless sugar crystallisation, but a sign the fruit is drying. Gentle warming dissolves it.
- Feel: the date should yield slightly under your thumb. Rock hard means old stock; mushy and leaking means it was stored too warm.
- Harvest year: a reputable seller states it. Dates are a seasonal fruit, and the current harvest always tastes best.
- Cold chain: ask whether the dates were refrigerated during storage and shipping. Medjool held at room temperature for months loses both texture and flavour.
What Medjool dates should cost
Prices vary with grade, origin and packaging. As a rough guide, supermarket Medium grade sells for about $8 to $12 per pound, Jumbo Fancy for $12 to $18 per pound, and imported Super Jumbo or gift-boxed dates for $18 to $30 per pound. A kilogram is about 2.2 pounds, so a 1 kg box of premium imported Medjool at $30 to $45 is in the normal range once shipping is included.
Buying online: what to look for
- Clear statement of origin and harvest year on the product page.
- Refrigerated or temperature-controlled storage before dispatch.
- Shipping time and cost shown before checkout, with tracking.
- Honest grade naming. If every product is called Super Jumbo, be cautious.
- Whole, pitted and stuffed options so you can buy for the use you have in mind.
Nutrition at a glance
USDA FoodData Central lists Medjool dates at about 277 kilocalories, 75 grams of carbohydrate, 6.7 grams of fibre and 696 milligrams of potassium per 100 grams, which is roughly four dates. They are naturally free of added sugar, fat and sodium.
Frequently asked questions
Are Medjool dates available year-round in the USA?
Yes. Harvest is in autumn, but cold storage keeps supply steady all year. Freshest fruit is from September to December.
Is it worth paying more for Jumbo?
For eating on their own or gifting, yes. For cooking, Medium grade tastes the same once chopped or blended.
Can imported dates be shipped to the US?
Yes. Dried and semi-dried dates are permitted imports, and specialist sellers ship directly with tracking.
How long do Medjool dates last once delivered?
Up to six months in the refrigerator in an airtight container, and about a year in the freezer.
Order Medjool dates from Tamooriya
Tamooriya sources Medjool directly from growers and keeps every box under temperature control until it ships. Choose Palestinian Medjool dates from Jericho, or try them stuffed with pistachio or walnut. For a comparison of origins, read our guide to Saudi vs Palestinian Medjool. Delivery cost and timing to the United States are shown at checkout.
Sources: USDA FoodData Central (Medjool dates, raw); California Date Commission; UC Davis Postharvest Technology Center.
