The Abu Dhabi Farmers’ Services Centre, or ADFSC, said it had sent its first export of nearly five tonnes of fresh Khinaizi and Naghal date verities on 12 July to Jeddah, where the date season has not yet begun.

In addition, the organisation will begin sending one-tonne drops every other day to London for the Muslim population preparing for Ramadan there. The first London export is scheduled today.

“The UAE hasn’t exported fresh rotab dates before on such a large scale,” ADFSC chief executive Chris Hirst said.

“And this initiative will open much-needed marketing channels for Abu Dhabi’s farmers, both increasing and diversifying their income.”

“In addition to London and Saudi Arabia, we’re looking into potential for Asian markets, especially in those countries with heavy Muslim populations.”

In Abu Dhabi, the fresh date season is well underway, and the ADFSC has already been marketing the fresh rotab dates under their Local Harvest brand to supermarkets throughout the UAE.

“The fresh date season is always a special time of year,” continued Hirst, “but it is even more important when it coincides with Ramadan, when those fasting prefer to break their fast with fresh dates.” The fresh date season will continue through September as the late-ripening varieties start to become available.

“With this short window of availability as well as the occasion of Ramadan,” Hirst said, “it is important that we take advantage of the increased demand as much as possible.”

The ADFSC is also taking part in the Liwa Date Festival this week, where staff members are handing out information and advice, offering technical demonstrations and even planning creative children’s activities. The technical demonstrations are given several times a day about proper palm care, using live palms brought in solely for that purpose.

The demonstrations are based on the ADFSC’s Improved Date Palm Nutrition Programme, which is a comprehensive palm care system that reduces instances of disease and pest infestation while bettering tree health through the use of organic soil additives and controlled-release fertiliser.

The programme was implemented on 50 Western Region farms during the 2010-11 growing season.