A campaign to promote Saudi dates in the food industry and schools

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In a strategic move aimed at enhancing the economic value of national products, the National Center for Palms and Dates , under the patronage of the Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture , Engineer Abdulrahman Al-Fadhli, launched the national promotional campaign under the slogan "Eat Dates, They're Better." This initiative seeks to solidify the position of Saudi dates as a fundamental and pivotal component in the food industry and major retail markets, moving beyond the traditional concept of consumption.

Strategic shift in the date industry

The center's general supervisor, Engineer Ahmed Al-Ayadah, explained that the campaign represents a pivotal turning point, aiming to transform dates from a mere fruit consumed raw into a value-added element integral to the food system and innovative products. The new strategy seeks to support research and development initiatives to create date-flavored products, thereby generating increased demand in both local and international markets.

This step is particularly important given the Kingdom's economic context, as dates are a cornerstone of food security and an integral part of the Kingdom's Vision 2030 , which aim to diversify income sources and increase non-oil exports. The Kingdom not only possesses a vast agricultural wealth of date palms, but also aspires to lead the world in related processing industries.

Extensive partnerships and on-the-ground activation

The initiative witnessed widespread engagement, reflecting exemplary collaboration between the public and private sectors. More than 10 major food companies and 20 companies specializing in restaurants and cafes participated, offering diverse options to cater to modern consumer tastes. The campaign extended beyond markets, encompassing outreach in schools and through smart delivery applications, aiming to instill a culture of healthy eating in younger generations.

The campaign aims to expand the uses of dates to include vital sectors such as:

Baked goods and sweets.
Dairy products and beverages.
Healthy and transformative foods.

Global leadership and economic impact

These moves come at a time when the Saudi date sector has achieved unprecedented growth, with annual production exceeding 1.9 million tons , enabling the Kingdom to lead the world in export value, which approached 1.7 billion riyals . Saudi dates have successfully reached markets in 133 countries worldwide, enhancing the prospects for successful marketing of processed and flavored date products globally.

This trend is expected to contribute to raising the economic returns for farmers and manufacturers, creating new job opportunities in the food industry sector, in addition to strengthening national identity, as dates are a symbol of generosity and authentic Arab hospitality, and a food source rich in natural elements.