Exhibiting at Asia Fruit Logistica 2025

Bard Valley Date Growers, operating under the brand name Natural Delights, is the leading Medjool date grower and marketer in North America. Headquartered in Yuma, Arizona, the company represents a collective of family farmers committed to growing and supplying premium quality Medjool dates through sustainable, ethical, and certified practices.

Core Business and Product Portfolio

The company specializes in growing, packing, and marketing fresh Medjool dates, widely recognized for their size, texture, and natural sweetness. Bard Valley’s diversified date product lineup includes:

• Whole Medjool Dates – Fresh, premium-grade dates hand-harvested at peak ripeness
• Pitted Medjool Dates – Convenient, ready-to-eat options for snacking and foodservice
• Organic Medjool Dates – USDA Certified Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified
• Mini Medjools® Date Rolls – Flavored snack products including:
  • Coconut Date Rolls
  • Cacao Pecan Date Rolls
  • Sweet & Salty Almond Rolls

These products are sold under the Natural Delights® brand and distributed through major retailers across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Industry Position and Scale

Bard Valley is the largest grower and distributor of Medjool dates in the United States, accounting for approximately 40% of the domestic Medjool date supply. The company’s date palms grow in the unique microclimate of the Lower Colorado River region—a natural oasis between Arizona and California—which delivers:

• 350+ days of sunshine per year
• Ideal temperature and humidity for Medjool cultivation
• Naturally nutrient-rich soil from the Colorado River delta

The Bard Valley Date Growers Association includes over 25 grower-members, collectively managing more than 3,000 acres of Medjool date palms.

Certifications and Sustainability

Natural Delights products are backed by a strong foundation of food safety and sustainability certifications:

• USDA Organic Certified
• Non-GMO Project Verified
• Halal Certified
• Kosher Certified
• GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) Compliant
• Sustainably Grown Certification through SCS Global Services

The company uses 100% drip irrigation, integrates pollinator-friendly practices, and has reduced water usage significantly through advanced farming techniques.

Facilities and Supply Chain Capabilities

Bard Valley Date Growers operates a state-of-the-art packing and cold storage facility in Yuma, Arizona, with the capacity to:

• Sort and pack millions of pounds of dates annually
• Support automated pitting and roll formation for value-added products
• Handle cold chain logistics for year-round product availability

The company maintains robust supply chain partnerships with regional distribution centers and international freight forwarders to ensure freshness and consistency in global deliveries.

Market Presence and Distribution

Natural Delights Medjool dates are stocked in over 20,000 retail locations across the U.S. and abroad, including:

• Whole Foods Market
• Costco
• Sam’s Club
• Walmart
• Kroger
• Albertsons

Internationally, the company exports to over 15 countries, targeting health-conscious consumers and specialty food markets.

Financial Performance and Growth

Though private, Bard Valley Date Growers has demonstrated consistent double-digit growth in the health snack category. Medjool dates have become a top seller in the produce snack section, driven by:

• A 42% increase in U.S. date consumption over the past decade
• Growth in plant-based and clean-label consumer segments
• Rising demand for natural energy foods and sugar alternatives

Marketing and Consumer Engagement

Natural Delights invests heavily in consumer education and brand awareness through:

• A strong social media presence across Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and TikTok
• Recipe campaigns and influencer collaborations
• Partnerships with registered dietitians and fitness communities

Their award-winning “Go Natural” campaign drove a 15% YoY sales lift and earned recognition at the United Fresh Innovation Awards.

Strategic Objectives

Bard Valley Date Growers continues to invest in:

• Expanded acreage for organic Medjool date production
• R&D in sustainable farming and smart irrigation
• New product innovations, including date-based energy bars and smoothie ingredients
• Traceability and blockchain integration to enhance transparency

Major Achievements

• Recognized as a Category Captain in produce by Progressive Grocer
• Named one of the Top 100 Health Food Brands by Grocery Headquarters
• Certified as a Sustainably Grown producer by SCS Global
• Export partner to multiple global foodservice distributors and natural grocers

Bard Valley Date Growers stands as a benchmark in North American specialty agriculture, blending traditional farming with modern sustainability and global market reach.