The Drâa Tafilalet region in Morocco’s Atlas Mountains is the heart of the country’s date cultivation, and this year, farmers are hopeful for a bumper harvest. In Erfoud, located along the Ziz River, the date harvest has already surpassed 100,000 tons.
Favorable summer temperatures, combined with last year’s rainfall, have helped ripen the dates and enhance their quality, making them ready for market.
"In September, the market is flooded with dates, and thank God, the production has been great," says one farmer. "To harvest, you need to shake the palm trees to make the dates fall, and after that, you carefully make your way out of the grove."
As the dates transition from green to shades of golden yellow, dark red, or light brown, harvesting becomes more intense. Farmers carefully pick the dates by hand using scissors and sickles, a delicate process requiring skill to ensure both the workers' safety and the integrity of the date clusters.
"From 8 a.m. to late afternoon, we're busy picking dates," another farmer adds. "We have a wide variety: Majhoul, Boufgouss, Lkhalq, and Bouslikh. We use three mats to sort and prepare them. We also use a process called 'ta'maar,' where the dates are placed in containers for further processing."
Since the start of the season, date markets have been bustling, with high demand from customers and traders looking for the finest quality at competitive prices.