Date palms belong to the Palmaceae family; they are native to the Persian Gulf and grow in arid and subtropical regions. The world’s leading producers are Egypt, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, and Algeria (source: FAO). Their fruit, the date, forms clusters weighing up to 25 kg of ripe fruit and takes several months to fully develop. It is oval-shaped, smooth, and contains a long, grooved seed. In many countries, the clusters of fruit are covered with paper bags to protect them from the elements (rain, dust) and rodents.

Date palms tolerate wide climatic variations; the optimal temperature for growth is 30°C, though they can withstand temperatures ranging from 8 to 45°C. From a commercial standpoint, it is important to keep humidity low during the ripening and harvesting periods, as high humidity could cause problems for most varieties.

The date palm thrives in almost any type of soil, but it does particularly well in sandy loam with good drainage. It is highly drought-resistant and has maximum resistance to salinity. The date palm grows in almost any type of soil: light, medium, and heavy, provided there is good drainage and ventilation. The date palm is resistant to drought and alkaline soils. When saline water is used for irrigation, there are declines in yield and quality.