BARD VALLEY, Calif.– Almonds have their own day. So do apples and bananas. So shouldn’t there be a national holiday honoring Medjool dates, one of the world’s first foods known for generations as the “Fruit of Kings”?
Thanks to the growers of Bard Valley Natural Delights, the country’s top-selling Medjool date brand, that day has come. The grower group has officially proclaimed Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2014, as inaugural National Medjool Date Day, dedicated to the celebration of Medjool dates as the perfect healthy snack, while also serving as a “naturally sweet, perfectly healthy” addition to salads, appetizers, entrees and smoothies.
Medjool dates, named an official “heart healthy” food by the American Heart Association, are low-medium on the glycemic index and packed full of fiber – making them perfect for boosting energy and satisfying hunger. Their caramel-like taste/consistency and natural sweetness gives them an advantage over refined sugars in recipes and pre- and post-workout snacks. Medjool dates are also gluten-free, Vegan, Halal and Kosher.
“Medjool dates have given the world nutrition and unparalleled taste for generations, so it seems appropriate they receive their own holiday,” said Ed O’Malley, president of Datepac, the largest packer and shipper of Natural Delights Medjool Dates in the United States. “We are excited to be able to create a day devoted to this universally beloved fruit.”
In honor of the first National Medjool Date Day, Natural Delights is partnering with TasteSpotting, a blog highlighting visually compelling recipes, for an all-day takeover on Feb. 4. Bloggers and consumers around the nation are encouraged to submit their favorite Medjool date recipes to TasteSpotting by February 3 for the opportunity to be featured on the blog on National Medjool Date Day. For more information on how to submit to TasteSpotting, click here.
Natural Delights is the top-selling brand of Medjools in North America. For additional information, please visit the Medjool date-dedicated Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/MedjoolDates.
About Bard Valley Natural Delights™ Medjool Dates
Caramel-like Natural Delights Medjool Dates are considered the best-tasting, most luscious dates in the world. In addition to being a good source of fiber, they contain no added sugar, are high in antioxidants and contain important vitamins and minerals, including Potassium, Copper, Magnesium, Vitamin B6, Niacin, Calcium and Iron. The Bard Valley Medjool Date Growers Association (BVMDGA), a consortium of family growers in the southwest, is responsible for more than 70 percent of the Medjool dates grown in the United States. Thanks to their efforts, Natural Delights is the top Medjool date brand in the country. For information and high-res art, including recipes, serving suggestions and nutritional information, go to www.naturaldelights.com and www.naturaldelights.com/retailers.
Source: Bard Valley Natural Delights™ Medjool Dates
