YUMA, Ariz. – Natural Delights recently welcomed a diverse group of more than thirty guests from all over the world to its annual Medjool Date Harvest Tour. The event brought together a dynamic mix of retailers, importers, wholesalers, influencers, dietitians, chefs, and media professionals.
Guests had the opportunity to go up into the date palms to put their skills to the test by hand-harvesting, guided by the brand’s skilled palmeros. They gained valuable insights into the labor-intensive process, which encompasses everything from de-thorning to the final harvest. Additionally, they explored the Datepac facilities, deepening their understanding of how the products are meticulously sorted, graded, and packed.
The tour culminated at a “Harvest Haute” Grower Dinner with guests enjoying a Medjool date-inspired meal prepared by Master Chef Walter Zuromski. The menu included a Beet & Arugula Salad with Date Balsamic Dressing, Farm Raised Pekin Duck Breast with Bourbon Date Gastrique, and Chocolate Medjool Date Fudge Pavê with a Cognac Ganache & Vanilla Bean Crème.
“Every year, our tour surpasses expectations, thanks to the ever-expanding global network of attendees who eagerly gather to learn about our products and sustainable growing practices,” said Natalia Toccoli, digital marketing manager for Natural Delights. “We are committed to ensuring that our partners have a comprehensive understanding of every facet of our business, from cultivation to innovation and sustainability.”
“Creating raving lifelong fans is the goal of every Harvest Tour, and I think it is safe to say we accomplished that again this year based on the outpouring of glowing reviews from attendees,” added Beth Keeton, founder & CEO of Elephant House PR.
The following sentiments were also shared by a few of the attendees:
“Seeing dates harvested and watching the Natural Delights team bring their products to life was nothing short of magical. The Harvest Tour was an incredible experience, and gave me a deeper understanding of how much work goes into the dates we buy at the grocery store. After knowing how much work goes into this process, I vow to never complain about the prices ever again!”
“I had a great time on the tour. I would definitely recommend this to anyone that would like to see the process from harvest to packaging.”
“Of all the harvest events I’ve been invited to as both a chef and content creator, this tour was the best.”
Influencers and media attendees shared more than 140 Instagram stories and posts and earned the brand 4.8 million impressions from social content during the two-day event. The tour also brought in significant interest from other media and influencers for next year’s event based on the content shared by attendees this year.
For a video recap of this year’s tour, check out Harvest Tour attendee Cara Harbstreet, RD’s vlog below:
For more information about Natural Delights, visit naturaldelights.com or contact Alan Asbury at alan.asbury@bvdg.com to place an order.
About Natural Delights®
Natural Delights® Medjool Dates, the leading Medjool date brand in North America, is a naturally sweet, whole fresh fruit grown in Bard Valley at the intersection of Arizona, California and Mexico where its very specific set of growing conditions are met. Water conservation, sustainable energy and connection with their community are the pillars of their organization. The Bard Valley Date Growers lead the industry in farming and best harvest practices. Every farm is subject to the same stringent certification process to ensure that every Natural Delights Medjool Date is grown to exacting standards. For more information on Bard Valley Natural Delights, please visit naturaldelights.com.
