5/15/14, THE DATES FRUIT TREE... DATES: THE HOLY FRUIT OF ARABIA The tradition of the Arabian hospitality is symbolized with a small cup or Arabian coffee, made with equal parts of lightly roasted coffee beans and cardamom, accompanied with a variety of fresh dates carefully arranged like precious jewels in a festive platter. This is a gesture that conveys cordiality and welcome in almost every Saudi home as well as most Arabian homes in the Arabian Gulf region. In the Saudi Arabian oasis, the palm trees stand tall with their branches outstretched towards the sky and their roots anchored deep into the earth. Palm trees are generously planted along the sides of every major city street, and elegant houses landscapes in Saudi Arabia. The icon of the beautiful palm tree is ubiquitous; one is bombarded with it everywhere in Saudi Arabia. The date palm tree is incorporated in the national emblem of Saudi Arabia to represent vitality and growth. This paper is a modest attempt to shed light on the vital importance of the date fruit and the date palm to the Saudi culture. A historical background regarding the date palm followed by its general characteristics, cultivation, uses and products are inescapable, and are briefly presented. HISTORY The exact origin of the first date palm is not known; however, the earliest finds trace back as far as 5000-6000 B.C. in Iran, Egypt, and Pakistan[15]. Evidence of date palm cultivation goes as far back as 4000 BC in what is now southern Iraq.[3,4] In the pre-Islamic archeology, the agricultural settlement of the southeastern Arabia was predicated upon the domestication of the date palm in 2500 BC.[14] Nixon indicated that the date palm has been introduced by the soldiers of Alexander the Great in the 4th century B.C. and by others to the Moslem invasions at the beginning of the 8th century A.D. The date palm was known in west India, now Pakistan, as far back as 2000 B.C. Yet, since the antiquity of the date culture scopes around the Persian Gulf, it is suggested that the date palm may have originated in that region.[5] In all the cases, there is general agreement that the history of date palm is as old as the history of man himself It has been noted as the tree of life. CULTIVATION The date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) is dioecious, which means that it exists in male and female plants. Fertilization of the female flowers by the male pollen is required for fruit setting. The process of pollination traditionally was done by hand, by inserting a piece of a spikelet of male flower at the moment of the opening of the female flower, which explains the labor-intensive nature of the fruit. Modem methods are used by collecting the pollen from the males, combining it with a carrier such as flour, then mechanically dusting the pollen mixture into the female flowers.[3] The date palm can be grown from the seeds (pits) of the fruit from an offshoot from a mother tree. If the seedling method is used, the chance of getting a male or a female tree is 50/50. Only offshoots, which are clone trees that sprout from the base of a mature mother tree, can guarantee the genetic copy of the parent tree. Only female trees produce the naturally sweet fruit; however, a male tree is necessary for pollination. One good male tree can supply enough pollen for 40-50 female trees.[11] The female flowers are not all produced at the same time; therefore, the stage of maturity of the dates is staggered for the different bunches. Even in one bunch, ripening will usually start from the lower end of the hanging bunch. This traditionally means that the farmer will be required to climb the tree more than once for each operation from pollination to fruit collection. The annual crop size depends on the growing environmental conditions, the age of the tree, and the skill of the cultivator.[3] Traditionally, the skills for cultivating date palms were passed from generation to generation. It used to be laborious and time consuming. Modem technology and advances in agriculture has greatly reduced the labor and improved the products. Pollination of the tree was done by hand a few times during a growing season. This meant climbing great heights to reach the treetop in the heat of the desert. Collecting the fruit also required climbing. Now pollination and fruit collection can be achieved mechanically. Processing and packaging are carefully performed in industrialized plants. The life cycle of the palm goes through five main stages. Each stage has distinctive characteristics and special requirements. The first stage is the growth of the offshoot, which is attached to the mother root. The offshoots can be obtained within 5-8 years from the date of planting the tree. The second stage is the growth of the separated and transplanted offshoot (4-6 years). The third stage is when the tree increases fruit yield and forms new offshoots. This stage can last about six years. The following fourth stage is characterized by full productivity, but no more offshoot formation this stage may last five more years. Formation of the offshoots during 4 the early years of the tree does not seem to have an effect on the capacity of the production when compared to a tree that does not grow offshoots. The full maturity of the palm tree is reached within 12-13 years. Exposure to the sun has a more profound effect on the crop yield. The outside rows that are exposed to more sun bear constantly more fruit than the inside rows with less sunshine exposure.[3] The final stage is when the fruit yield starts to decline.[3] The date palm begins to bear fruit at 3-5 years and continue to provide for at least 12 years.[14] In one growing season, it takes 200 days from pollination to full fruit maturation. Fruit maturation undergoes four basic stages identified in the date industry by their Arabic names. The first stage is the appearance of a small green fruit, non-edible, called the kimri stage, which is approximately one month from pollination. This stage is characterized by a rapid increase in size, weight, and reducing sugar; it is the period of highest acid activity and moisture content. It is followed by the Khalal stage, which is when the fruit is botanically mature and turns into a yellow or red color. The Khalal fruit is edible, and very popular in the Arabian countries. Because of the mild astringent flavor, due to the tannins content, this does not appeal to the European or American tastes, and is rarely found in their markets. lf the fruit is left on the tree it will mature to the rutab stage, which is half brown and half yellow or red. Rutab is lower moisture content, increased sucrose content, and tannins will start to precipitate and lose their astringency. The final stage of fruit maturation is the tamr stage when the fruit is left on the tree if climatic conditions are favorable. This stage is the brown color, universally known date dried fruit, where the moisture content is a self-preserving maximum of 25%.[3] USES OF THE DATE PALM The date palm produces the edible date fruit. The date palm has been identified as the tree symbolizing life for its many uses of all parts of the tree. Since the dawn of history, the date palm has been an important source of food for the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. It is a concentrated energy provider, which was easily stored and carried along on desert journeys. The date palm provided an amenable habitat, providing shade and protection from the desert winds. The shade also allowed other plants to grow in the heat of the desert. In ancient times, native Arabs have been reported to consume as much as six pounds of dates per day. Dates were the principal food during half the year; they consumed several pounds a day regularly throughout their lives. Drinking milk was a common habit to accompany dates to smooth out the sweetness. The Arabs were noted to be among the healthiest and most vigorous members of the human race at that time.[7] Every part of the palm date tree was put into good use. In ancient times, the leaves were used to build the roof of the hut for desert dwellers, and to weave baskets for date collection and hats to protect from the burning desert sun. To make carpets for use inside the hut was yet another use of leaves. In modern time, the wood from the trunks, and the leaves provide timber and fabric for houses and fences. The leaves can be made into ropes, cords, baskets, crates and furniture. The fruit stalk may be used as fuel.[15] The exact number of uses for the palm date is yet to be explored. According to Arabian folklore, there are 360 benefits gained from the date palm. It has been reported that damaged dates that are not used for human consumption, when added to animal feed, can increase the flow of milk in farm animals.8 Ground pits can also be used as an additive to feed for fish farms. Medicinal uses have also been reported, many of which are without scientific evidence, such as an analgesic or as a supplement to treat hypokalemia, a potassium deficiency.[7,8] Nutritionally, dates are dense and healthy and provide a good source of energy. They are naturally sweet, rich in fiber and low in cholesterol. Dates are rich in iron compared to other fruits and have more potassium than bananas. The California date administrative committee nutrient analysis reports the nutritional content of California dates. The average date has only 23 calories, rich in vitamins like vitamin B-6, niacin, folate and pantothenic acid. Dates are also rich in minerals like potassium, phosphorus, and magnesium. Moreover, they are fat free, cholesterol free, and sodium free. Five to six dates make up an equivalent of one fruit serving according to the USDA food pyramid. The above characteristics qualify the dates for a healthy snack that meets the American Heart Association guidelines.10 The date varieties that are grown and consumed in the United States still bear their original Arabic names; the most frequently used is the Deglet Noor variety (meaning a piece of light).[10, 11, 12] DATES IN SAUDI ARABIA The succulent edible date fruit, in the form of all varieties, is one of the most valued foods in Saudi Arabia. It has religious values as well as cultural importance. The date palm has been a source of valued food for the inhabitants of the Arabian Peninsula. All parts of the palm tree were put to use. The wide branches and leaves provided shades from the heat of the strong desert sun. The fronds have thatched the roof of a desert dwellers hut and provided the basket in which he collected the savory fruit that grew generously on the tree. In the holy Quran, the palm tree is referred to as the blessed tree. When the Prophet built his mosque in Madinah, the pillars were constructed from the trunks of the palm trees and the roof was woven from palm fronds. In Prophet Mohammeds sayings and actions (Hadith) many quotes have been cited. Muslims value the Prophets life and try to do as he did as much as possible. During the dawn of Islam, the Prophet Muhammad lived for months on dates and water alone. It has been reported in Hadith that a house without dates is a hungry household.6 He also reported that if seven dates accompanied with water were to be consumed every morning, one is protected from disease and evil.6 The special kind of date he referred to is particularly grown in Madinah, (the second holy city in Saudi Arabia- also called the city of palm) where it is still cultivated to this day. It is strongly believed that the kind cultivated in modern times is the same as the special kind referred to in Hadith. Another important religious link to dates is embedded in the didactic story mentioned in the Quran (the holy book for Muslims) about the birth of the Prophet Jesus. The story is that when the Virgin Mary was giving birth, she heard a voice telling her: Shake the trunk of the palm tree towards thee: it will drop fresh, ripe dates upon thee. Eat, then and drink, and let thine eye be gladdened (Quran 19:25-26). Therefore, it has been long believed that the consumption of dates during pregnancy and delivery is most beneficial for ease of delivery. Many other verses make mention of the importance of the date palm in the Quran. The older generation of Saudis values dates more than the younger generation. However, both generations consume dates during one whole month of the year. During the fasting month of Ramadan, almost all fasting Muslims break their fast by sunset with a few dates, preferably in odd numbers[3,5,or7] and with a few sips of water; this act has also been reported by Hadith. The date palm is especially important to Saudis, not only for its myriad uses, but as a national symbol. After the current kingdom of Saudi Arabia was founded in 1932, the date palm was incorporated in its national emblem, representing vitality and growth. This makes the date palm and date fruit an integral part of Saudi culture. Date farming was a dominant part of the Saudi Arabias economy before the oil industry became the primary industry. However, during the early 70s the date cultivation became stagnant due to lack of labor, poor technology and declining yield. The date industry was back on track with the assistance of the Saudi government in the early 80s, the times of economic boom due to the oil industry.[8] In 1993, Dowson, in collaboration with FAO reported that 75% of all dates produced worldwide is produced in six major date producing countries. Saudi Arabia ranks third among the six, preceded by Egypt and Iran, and followed by Iraq, Takistan and Algeria.[3] Iraq used to be the number one date producing country in the world,[6,7,13] before it became what it it is today, one of the most economically stressed countries in the world.The ranking of the dates production refers only to the quantity of dates produced not the quality. To assess quality is a difficult job due to the hundreds of varieties produced, many of which are produced on a small scale by local farmers. The largest date producing region in Saudi Arabia is in the eastern province of the country, Al-Hasa. The university in this region, in collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Agriculture and Water, has established the Date Palm Research Center in 1982. The center is a member of the Arab National Committee for Date Palms, which is part of the Arab Union for Food Industry, a section of the Arab League. Since its establishment, the Research Center has hosted three symposiums on the date palm, which have attracted scientists, scholars and farmers from around the world. Field research and applied research are continually being conducted to deal with problems that hinder date palm plantation, production, processing and marketing. The scientists at the Center have made remarkable advances in the technologies of dates cultivating superior date palms and developing more practical and economical ways for growth. Laboratory cultured tiny pieces of the trunk of the tree are used to plant and grow new trees instead of using offshoots which take years to form new trees. An irrigation problem, where the canals were blocked by dense algae, was solved by introducing fish in the irrigation ditches that fed on the algae and restored the flow of water to the groves (embassy). The Center also provides training opportunities to local date farmers, and the goverment provides generous financial aids to encourage date cultivators. The date palm has always been a vital role of the lives of Saudis. With the benefit of modern technology and scientific knowledge, improved quality of the fruit, and the development of inventive uses, the date palm is certain to continue to be a part of the Arabian landscape and culture for centuries .
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 12:49:03 +0000
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