Coachella Date Tree Facts:
In the Coachella Valley, our dates are truly exceptional. Our unique climate and soil make it the perfect environment for date trees to thrive. With a long lifespan, date-producing trees offer a substantial return on the crop they yield. Despite the increasing development pressure in the Eastern Coachella Valley, many original date farms still stand, preserving the rich history of the region. The City of Coachella is committed to honoring the heritage of these farms as part of its historical narrative.
Coachella Date Tree Information:
In the late 1800s, date seeds and offshoots were brought from Egypt, Algeria, and the Persian Gulf to the dry southwest of the United States. The U.S. Department of Agriculture established an experimental agricultural station in the Coachella Valley in 1904, focusing on date cultivation. Various varieties were tested, including those from offshoots and seeds.
Over the years, date crop production experienced significant growth, from around 100,000 pounds in 1919 to 1 million pounds in 1926, and a remarkable 48 million pounds by 1955. At that time, about 85% of date acreage in the U.S. was located in the Coachella Valley, with the majority of production coming from 14,000 offshoots of the Deglet Noor variety imported from Algeria.
The Coachella Valley has always possessed ideal conditions for date production. The dry terrain, artesian water, and high temperatures contribute to the exceptional quality of dates grown here—sweet and plump.
On average, each date tree can yield approximately 200 pounds of dates per year. Typically, a date tree will begin producing fruit between 3-8 years old, reaching maximum yields at around.
