Dates are harvested when they reach their desired level of ripeness.

They are commonly found in regions with desert-like conditions, including parts of the Middle East, North Africa, and some parts of the United States.

Dates are the fruit of the date palm tree, scientifically known as Phoenix dactylifera.
The date palm belongs to the Arecaceae family and is cultivated for its sweet and nutritious fruit.

Many date palm varieties require cross-pollination, where male and female trees are needed to produce fruit.