Different teams, capabilities and assets have come together and have resulted in the launch of Oasis Date, a vertically integrated date company that farms 5,000+ acres of Medjool dates in Southwest Arizona and Southern California. In addition, the company has a 500k square foot processing footprint. "In the past year, growers and processors have come together and collaborated to build one company that's focused on bringing an amazing and healthy product to retailers and consumers," says Adam Cooper, CEO of Oasis Date. The company is the majority supplier to North America's leading date brand, Natural Delights®, which enjoys category leadership in sales and distribution.
Cooper was hired from The Wonderful Company a year ago and was immediately drawn to the category and the product. "I believe dates are a tremendously underserved category, ripe for disruption and growth," he said. "Medjool dates, in particular, are a rarity - a sweet yet healthy snack, which holds tremendous appeal for today's consumer who's focused on nutrition and wellness without compromise. I've had a lot of experience turning an underappreciated snack category into one having a strong presence at retail and my focus is now solidly fixed on dates."
World's first Regenerative Organic Certified date farm
Today, only nine percent of U.S. households purchase dates, offering a tremendous upside to grow the category. Remarkably, more than half of U.S. date consumers are interested in buying regenerative organic dates. And that's exactly what Oasis Date is: the world's first and only Regenerative Organic Certified® date farm. The core of regenerative organic agriculture is enhancing the health of the ecosystem. Farms that are Regenerative Organic Certified meet the highest standards in the world for soil health and farmworker fairness. The certification was established in 2018 and is often acknowledged as the highest standard for sustainability in agriculture.
"The health benefits of dates in combination with great taste and regenerative organic certification offer the category potential for exponential growth. It's exciting to be part of transforming the industry," mentioned Cooper.
Wellness and culinary experts are coming to understand what Medjool aficionados have long known. Medjool dates are not only delicious, but they are loaded with fiber, potassium, and antioxidants, while providing a natural sweet boost of energy without the crash. Medjools are also a culinary secret weapon as their natural sweetness enhances any dish, sweet or savory, so it's no surprise that Medjool dates are quickly becoming an in-demand healthy sweet treat for consumers and are trending at retail. As an innovation and research leader, Oasis Date is partnering with leading academic, health, and industry researchers on the science of date-growing and consumer trends.
Oasis Date grows, processes and packs 1 billion prized organic Medjool dates annually in Southern California and Southwest Arizona. Yet this new enterprise actually has a storied history. Some of the very first Medjool date palm trees in North America were planted in the company's 'Oasis Date Gardens' farm in the Coachella Valley over a century ago.
Leadership team
In addition to CEO Adam Cooper, the following members are part of the leadership team at Oasis Date:
- Keith Mitchell, Chief Financial Officer. Previously served as CFO at Sun World International and Dole Food Company.
- Ignacio Portilla, Chief Operations Officer, Farming. Has 20+ years experience in senior management roles at farming operations in North America and Latin America.
- Ted Johnson, Chief Operations Officer, Processing. Used to lead North America's top Medjool date farming operation.
Adam Cooper will be attending IFPA's Global Produce & Floral Show in Atlanta from Oct. 17-19 and will mostly be present at the Natural Delights booth. Stop by booth B1131 to meet up.
For more information:
Adam Cooper
CEO
Oasis Date
[email protected]
www.oasisdate.com