Medjool dates are grown in hot, dry desert regions including parts of the United States, North Africa, and the Middle East.

Where Are Medjool Dates Grown?

Main Growing Regions Today

  • United States – Especially:
    • Bard Valley on the California–Arizona border near Yuma, supported by the Colorado River for irrigation.
* Coachella Valley in Southern California, known for organic and premium Medjool production.
  • Morocco – Their historical home, particularly the Tafilalt region and areas near Boudnib, where the variety originated and is still widely cultivated.
  • Middle East & North Africa – Significant production in:
    • Jordan, Israel, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt.
* Other arid zones of North Africa with similar climates.

These regions share very similar climates: long, intensely hot summers, low humidity, and reliable irrigation sources, which are ideal for Medjool date palms.

Why These Places?

Medjool date palms thrive where:

  • Temperatures regularly exceed 100°F (about 38°C) for long stretches of the year.
  • The air is very dry, which helps the fruit ripen and concentrate sweetness.
  • There is a strong water source for irrigation (like the Colorado River in Bard Valley).

Because of this, deserts that might seem inhospitable to many crops become perfect for Medjools when irrigation is available.

Quick HTML Table Overview

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Region / Country Key Growing Area Notes
United States Bard Valley (CA–AZ border), Coachella Valley (CA) Major modern producer; hot desert climate with Colorado River irrigation.
Morocco Tafilalt, Boudnib and surrounding oases Historical origin of Medjool; traditional and large-scale farms.
Jordan & Israel Jordan Valley and similar desert oases Export large volumes of premium Medjool dates worldwide.
Saudi Arabia & Egypt Desert oases and irrigated date-growing belts Part of the wider Middle East production network for Medjools.
Other countries Iran, South Africa, Palestine, etc. Smaller but growing Medjool production in suitable hot, arid climates.

Little Origin Story

Medjool dates were first identified and cultivated in Morocco, where they were once considered so special they were reserved for royalty and important guests. In the 20th century, offshoots from Moroccan palms were moved to the U.S. to protect them from disease, eventually taking root in California and Arizona, where they’ve now been grown for over a century.

That’s why you’ll now see “Moroccan Medjools” and “California/Bard Valley Medjools” side by side in many stores—same iconic variety, just grown in different but similarly extreme desert environments.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.