The Egyptian medjool season is about to begin. The first harvests have taken place and the fruit will reach the market in October, according to Khaled El-Haggan, founder and CEO of the Haggan Group.
The grower says: "Production conditions this season were much better than last, as we were spared the sandstorms." To recall, last season, violent sand-laden winds impacted several crops in Egypt, including dates.
Quality is very good this season, reports to El-Haggan. He describes, "We have 4 categories in Medjool dates and 3 in Barhi dates. If we take Class A Medjool dates as an example, the quality is excellent. In this category, we select semi-dry Medjool dates with a dark color, a high degree of skin wrinkles, a skin separation below 1%, and skin defects below 1%. The internal moisture level for this category is between 22-26%, fruit capsule is at 100%. In terms of MRIs, Residuals are at 0%. Also, dates are completely insect-free."
"We export our dates under the Altamra brand, which is a high-quality brand of semi-dried Medjool dates, conforming to international export quality, produced by Haggan Farm and marketed by Haggan Group L.L.C. Altamra dates are packaged with an excellent design that meets Class A taste standards, and come in three sizes: one kg box, 500g box, and 65-100g pyramid pack. The latter is mainly intended for nutrient-rich diets, energy boosters, religious calendars, corporate gifts, and promotions," El-Haggan adds.
"Altamra's food safety is second to none at every stage of production, pre and post-harvest. We ensure that Altamra complies with all local and international food safety standards. We also put a great deal of thought into the selection of food-ready packing materials and processes."
As for prices, El-Haggan expects an increase: "Global demand is increasingly strong, which will influence prices in the coming season".
For more information:
Khaled El-Haggan
Group Haggan
Tel: +201222105631
Email: [email protected]