I Can’t Stop Eating These Ugly Dates

I recently received what looked like a pint of ice cream except that it wasn’t frozen and it had whimsical black-and-white drawings around the entire cardboard container.

When I looked at it more closely I realized that it held California Medjool dates from Rancho Meladuco Date Farm. The farm is the award-winning grower and seller of best quality Coachella Valley, California, Medjool dates.

The kind of dates that I always bring back with me whenever I visit the farmers markets in Los Angeles. They are plump and soft and sweet and caramel-like—like candy. But these dates are a little different, they are the proudly imperfect dates called “The Grinders.”

When I asked Joan Smith, the owner and creator of the The Grinders why she named the award-winning product, Grinders, she told me, they are “imperfect dates.” They were “previously deemed undesirable and difficult to market by the industry and traditional buyers due to slight imperfections in appearance.”

Joan continues, “The reason I called them Grinders is because it was originally thought of as fruit that was too small or not attractive enough on its own so it would be used to cook or blend in a smoothie, etc.; hence the idea of grinding them up as an ingredient rather than eating them whole.”

California dates are an expensive, labor-intensive crop to grow. Due to variable weather conditions they’re also vulnerable to superficial scarring and skin separation, a.k.a. “puffy” skin, causing buyers to downgrade crops, making them less valuable.

The challenge of selling imperfect dates can bring economic hardship to small farmers with “puffy” dates. By marketing what Joan affectionately refers to as, “the ugly dates,” she is able to offer the dates at roughly a 50% discount over the “perfect dates.” The Grinders also benefit Smith’s community of partner farmers—those who had unsellable imperfect dates now have a market for this fruit.

I love that there is a market for these dates and that they don’t go to waste. They did not look imperfect to my untrained eye, and they certainly did not taste imperfect. In fact, I have fallen in love with these ugly dates, and soon everyone will have a chance to try them as the planned distribution is huge.

The Grinders are being distributed nationally through 4500 WalMart stores nationwide. Joan applied (along with more than 1100 other entrepreneurs) and won one of the 330 spots in the annual Walmart Open Call. Walmart recognized Smith’s vision to support date farmers by giving the imperfect but high-quality superfruit a market and expose them to a broader audience.

Joan suggests that these dates are perfect for snacking and baking. But as a date lover who doesn’t really care what they look like, I think that they are perfect for cheeseboards or any other place where they have a featured spot.

Dates are nutrient dense, rich in fiber, potassium, antioxidants, iron, vitamin B6 and more. They are naturally sweet and sticky, and delicious. Although I love eating them straight from the cup, an innovative and appealing recipe from the Ranch peaked my interest.

The dates are substituted for caramel in a nutty dark chocolate turtle. This is brilliant for a number of reasons, including the fact that using a date for the caramel adds some nutrition and makes it very simple and easy for everyone to make.

Medjool Date Turtles

In this healthy spin on the iconic classic Turtle of dark chocolate, toasty nuts and silky caramel, the caramel layer is subbed for a smashed, sun-sweetened medjool date. The caramel-like sweetness of the dates offers a natural alternative to the traditionally sugar-loaded turtle. Make a batch in advance and then store in the fridge or freezer for late-night sugar cravings and after-school snacks. Recipe and photo by Julia Heffelfinger.

Makes 12

Ingredients:

12 Rancho Meladuco Medjool dates

1 cup whole roasted nuts, such a peanuts, cashews, pecans or almonds

6 ounces dark chocolate, finely chopped

Flaky sea salt, for sprinkling

Using a sharp paring knife, cut a lengthwise slit along the top of each date. Discard the pits. Using your hand or the bottom of a glass, smash the dates into a flat circle.

Press 5 to 7 nuts into each date and transfer to a parchment paper-lined plate or quarter sheet pan. Freeze for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a microwave safe bowl, microwave half of the chopped chocolate on HIGH for 30 seconds. Repeat until it’s beginning to melt, about 1 minute. Add the remaining ½ of the chocolate and stir until smooth. Let cool slightly.

Spoon the chocolate onto each turtle and sprinkle with flaky sea salt. Return to the freezer and chill until firm, about 30 minutes. Enjoy!

MAKE AHEAD: The turtles can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge or freezer for up to 1 month. Let the chocolate firm up in the freezer before transferring them to a separate container.