Latest news with #dates
ABC News
4 hours ago
- Business
- ABC News
Fledgling Australian date industry looks for growers to capture huge export potential
Dates are one of the oldest cultivated foods in human history, but in Australia it is an industry still in its infancy. The fruit has been a staple for millennia but now Australian growers are turning their attention to the date palm and its strong connection to the Middle East. The Australian Date Grower Association (ADGA) is now looking to position the crop as a strong alternative for grape growers — particularly in the Riverland and Sunraysia regions where the climate for the date palm is ideal. The ADGA said the appeal of the crop came from its potential export market, as Australia was producing the fruit in the off-season of the Northern Hemisphere. The Australian date industry is currently comprised of 50 commercial farms over a total area of about 100 hectares, with local farms predominantly growing and exporting the barhi variety. According to Fortune Business Insights, the global date market is currently valued at about $US30 billion and is expected to climb, making it potentially lucrative for local exporters. ADGA chair and Riverland Date Garden owner Steve Brauer has grown dates on his Gurra Gurra farm since 2004. He said there was a lot of demand. "I market my medjools in the soft, moist stage and it's a completely different product [compared to] an American medjool," Mr Brauer said. "Then you've got the barhi. They're sweet and there's a huge demand for them with the Middle Eastern population, Indonesians, Indians — they recognise that crop. "With the population of those cultures in Australia, we've got a huge demand." Freshmax Australia sales and marketing general manager Michael Tyler said he was in the process of creating a financial guide for the ADGA to help growers from other industries make educated decisions about a potential transition. "In the horticultural sector, I believe there's little that compares to dates when it comes to the level of significance in the Muslim community with the breaking of the Ramadan fast," he said. Mr Tyler said his research indicated the Northern Hemisphere would run out of storage space for dates in five years. "This represents a major opportunity for Southern Hemisphere date production … to reduce the reliance on northern plantations," he said. "The Australian market is immature, but we're heading to a mature market at a really compelling rate [due to the] significant growth occurring [in the industry]." While export opportunities grab most of the attention, Mr Brauer said local growers still had not "tapped into the Australian market" to its full potential. "It's not a quick-growing crop and you've got to be in there for the long haul — 10 years before you get full production," he said. "But I think it's an ideal crop … it's one of those you don't have to be on the ball every day, it's forgiving." North-west Victorian grower Peter Middleton said dates had been a welcome change from growing grapes. "It is a great change from grapes where it felt like you weren't getting good value for your fruit, but with dates we're regularly getting between $20-30 a kilogram for good quality fruit," he said. "I like growing dates because it is a seller's market. With grapes it was very much a buyer's market. "I have people knocking on the door all the time, and I can't supply all of them." Mr Middleton said Australia was in a prime position to export directly to one of the world's biggest date markets. "Dates are very important to the Islamic community and we've got Indonesia, with the world's biggest Islamic population, right on our doorstep," he said. "There are tremendous opportunities to export dates there and to the Middle East as well. "The domestic market is grossly undersupplied — it is a new industry and it is quite exciting."
The National
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- The National
How two million palm fronds create UAE Pavilion's unique scent at Expo 2025 Osaka
Step into the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka and the first thing you notice is the scent. It's warm, earthy and oddly nostalgic. This is not a man-made fragrance, but something organic and real. For Emiratis, it evokes the memory of drying dates in the summer. For Japanese visitors, it is something comforting and familiar even if they cannot quite place it, notes Shaikha Al Ketbi, the UAE Pavilion's creative director. 'In our previous participation at Expo 2020 Dubai, we had a bespoke fragrance created. But here in Osaka, the scent came naturally,' she says. 'It was not part of the plan, but a complete surprise.' The pavilion is built from about two million date palm fronds, arranged into 90 towering columns. The fronds were sourced from the UAE, Egypt and Tunisia, then cleaned, straightened and treated before being shipped to Japan. 'We gathered all the material in a warehouse. When we entered, it smelt just like home,' says Al Ketbi. 'There was warmth, a little sweetness. We said to each other: 'Wouldn't it be amazing if this scent stayed once the pavilion was built?'' Luckily for the team, and the visitors, the unique scent lingered on when the pavilion was built, even after months of foot traffic. Of the response from Japanese visitors, Al Ketbi adds: 'It has been such a strong point of connection. Some ask if we plan to bottle it, an idea we are now exploring with perfumers.' The pavilion itself was designed to engage all senses. 'We wanted a multisensory experience,' says Al Ketbi. 'Scent, yes, but sound as well. There is a soundscape at the entrance that mimics the sounds of an oasis. The materials are textured, and we use lighting and space to create calm. And there is the food, of course.' The restaurant inside the pavilion serves Emirati cuisine but in bento boxes, a gesture of cultural exchange. 'We knew the Japanese public would appreciate that format,' says Mariam Al Memari, head of the UAE Expo Office. 'It is something familiar to them. But when they open it, it is a surprise. They discover Emirati flavours and traditional dishes. The response has been incredibly positive.' Some ingredients are flown in from the UAE, others sourced locally to maintain freshness and sustainability. Meanwhile, the architecture is striking in its simplicity. The glass facade invites people in, offering a view of the columns and woven structures within. The layout is circular, centred on a courtyard-like space. 'From the beginning, we wanted to build a pavilion that felt welcoming,' says Al Ketbi. 'Some pavilions are designed to impress from a distance. Ours is designed to invite. Visitors see the columns and the materials, and they come closer.' The columns vary in height from nine to sixteen metres, and are constructed from treated palm fronds and bound with rope. 'The material is unfamiliar here,' says Al Ketbi. 'We worked with a Japanese carpentry studio to make it happen. It required a whole new supply chain.' The effect is both immersive and intimate. Japanese visitors often touch the materials, notes Ketbi. 'They are drawn to the texture. It creates a relationship. They do not just see the pavilion, they feel it.' At the centre of the experience are Emirati youth ambassadors and volunteers, many of whom speak Japanese, guide visitors and answer questions. 'They are the human face of the UAE here,' says Al Memari. 'Visitors are often struck by their warmth and confidence. For many, it is their first time meeting someone from the UAE.' The pavilion also includes a shop that offers products made by Emirati artists and start-ups. Many items are made from date palm fibre. 'We want people to take home something that feels authentic,' says Al Memari. 'Some pieces even reference Expo 1970, when Abu Dhabi participated before the formation of the UAE.' That reference to 1970 is part of a wider narrative. The pavilion's theme, Earth to Ether, connects past and present. 'In 1970, Abu Dhabi came to Expo as a single emirate,' says Al Ketbi. 'In 2025, the whole federation is here. That is not just history. It is a story of transformation.' The story is narrated through media installations as well as the pavilion's design itself. The layout is circular, evoking traditional gathering spaces. The woven materials bring on a sense of one's own home rather than a busy commercial setting. 'We wanted to explore the idea of legacy,' says Al Ketbi. 'What gets passed on? What do we share with the world? How do we carry our environment with us, even when we are far from home?' The pavilion was developed by a multidisciplinary collective that brought together architects, designers, artists, writers and engineers. 'It was a collaborative process,' says Al Ketbi. 'Everyone contributed. The person who wrote the story, the person who sourced the material, the person who shaped the columns – all of them were part of the creative team.' Since opening its doors, the pavilion has attracted more than two million visitors. 'We see 30,000 people a day,' says Al Memari. 'But more important than the numbers is the feedback. Visitors, Japanese or otherwise, tell us they feel something here – calm, welcome connection.'
Khaleej Times
04-08-2025
- General
- Khaleej Times
'I bought cars': How UAE women farmers grew dates for over 50 years, got own income
UAE's women farmers have continued to pursue their passion for agriculture since Amna Khalifa Al Qemzi, the first Emirati female farmer. Many women in the UAE have actively engaged in farming and land development over the years. The lands granted by the rulers of the UAE to support citizens, since the era of Sheikh Zayed, have been cultivated by numerous Emirati women. They have played a vital role in agricultural development while preserving UAE's heritage and contributing to the economy. "I am a farmer, planting, plowing, and harvesting (dates)," said Emirati farmer Sariaa Al Muhairi (Um Saeed) to Khaleej Times during her participation in Dubai Dates. Um Saeed has nearly 52 years of experience in farming. Since she was young, she accompanied her father to their farm to help with the work. "When I was 10 years old, I lived with my father in Jumeirah, and he would take me with him to his palm farm." She learned not only palm farming at age 10 but also riding camels and driving cars. She explained that she used to do manual work with her father on the farm. This included tasks such as filling buckets with water from the well to irrigate the palm trees, cleaning the trees, arranging the offshoots, and planting them. "At that time, machines were not available, and we didn't have any workers. We did all the work ourselves," she said. Owning a farm What started small grew inside Um Saeed; her love for farming and palm trees increased after she married at age 25 and moved to live with her husband in Liwa. "I wanted to own a farm for myself, so I bought a farm when I got married in Liwa. I bought an empty farm, just a piece of land, and started buying and planting palm trees. I used to plant 20 to 30 palms until the number grew," she added. Um Saeed currently owns more than 800 palm trees. "I worked on it myself with the help of workers for cleaning palms from insects, planting, and watering," she said, adding that she takes care of the farm all-year round. "I had no income before, but I earned a lot from the farm and spent it on my children. We lived well from the farm's yield, and I bought cars." Um Saeed, the mother of seven children and grandmother, owns a date and palm trading project. She participated in Dubai Dates with five types: Al Shishi, Khenaizi, Al-Ikhlas, Bumaan, and Al Dibs. She currently owns two farms in Dubai and Liwa. Date caring The love of palm trees and agriculture is inherent in the UAE. Even when Emirati women aren't farming, they leverage their expertise in other related endeavours. Mariam (Um Ali) learned farming from her mother at the age of 12. "We would go clean the farms, harvest the dates, and prepare them. In the summer, we don't travel; we prepare the dates because it's the date season." Um Ali's work extends beyond her farm, which has around 300 palm trees. She has also begun preparing, cleaning, and packaging dates meticulously before selling them. Drawing on her extensive experience in the field, Um Ali carefully collects fresh dates from local farmers and trusted suppliers. With careful attention to detail, she cleans each date, ensuring that every trace of dirt is thoroughly removed. Once clean, she sorts the dates into distinct categories based on their quality, distinguishing the finest, plump dates from those of lesser grade. The dates are then packaged in distinctive and attractive boxes. "The process usually takes about three months," she said. She explained that starting this work wasn't easy. It required a significant amount of effort and time, along with a great deal of responsibility. Achieving a balance between work and family life is essential. "I begin my workday at 6am and continue until noon. After taking a three-hour break, I return to preparing dates from 3pm to 9pm." Because of her love for this profession, she never gets tired of it and prefers to spend the summer working on dates instead of traveling. "My family always supports me, and my daughters are interested in the process and help me. This motivates me to continue." With encouragement and support from her family, she has expanded her business by incorporating dates into sweets like rangina, basbousa, date cakes, and various other desserts. Um Ali expressed her optimism about the new generation, saying, "I see girls today interested in agriculture and date cultivation. I also see my daughters accompanying me to visit the palm trees and participate in the work." She emphasised the importance of fostering a love for palm trees and manual labor among the younger generation. She hopes that the UAE's agricultural heritage will be preserved and that future generations will continue to develop it.
Arab News
03-08-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Otaiqah season boosts date industry, culture
RIYADH: The fourth Otaiqah Dates Season has been launched to promote Saudi Arabia's date industry, which contributes around 12 percent to the country's agricultural gross domestic product and exports to more than 113 countries, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday. Held in Riyadh's Otaiqah Central Market, the event is organized by Riyadh Development Company in partnership with the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and the National Center for Palms and Dates, and supported by Riyadh Municipality. The Culinary Arts Commission and the Saudi Tourism Authority, through the Visit Saudi platform, are also participating. Running for four months during the date harvest, it is the Kingdom's longest seasonal date market, bringing together traders, farmers, and consumers from across Saudi regions. A dedicated children's area offers educational and recreational activities such as palm planting, workshops, and interactive plays. Additional features include cultural performances and food trucks offering traditional dishes in a community setting.
Arab News
01-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab News
Dates carnival to boost business in Buraidah
BURAIDAH: The Buraidah Dates Carnival launched on Friday in the heart of Date City, Buraidah. Organized by the National Center for Palms and Dates and the Saudi Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, and held under the supervision of the Qassim governorate, the carnival will run until Oct. 9. Farmers and traders are showcasing more than 100 varieties of Qassim dates, including renowned types such as Sukkari, Barhi, and Saqi. The carnival offers a rich lineup of activities and events, including displays of manufacturing industries, contributions from productive families, palm-themed handicrafts, heritage and poetry evenings, and performances by traditional folk groups. A dedicated children's area with drawing activities is also featured, along with a wide array of programs tailored to engage and entertain all segments of society. Notably, the previous edition of the Buraidah Dates Carnival generated sales of nearly SR3.2 billion ($85 million), with an average of 2,000 vehicles transporting dates daily. The event also attracted over 800,000 visitors, reflecting its growing popularity and economic impact.
