S2-Episode 5: Joan Smith-The Date Farmer
Dates are such a fascinating desert fruit. They grow on date palm trees, which may be one of the oldest cultivated trees in the world, dating back over 5,000 years. They’re not only tasty, but they’re a pretty cool food to learn about, too. Today’s guest teaches us all sorts of fun facts. I learned so much talking to her!
Like, did you know that dates are considered a berry? Or that the dried fruit is more than 50 percent sugar?
Joan Smith runs Rancho Meladuco Date Farm in Coachella Valley, California. She’s a CPA who shifted her career to date farming. She’s a mother, a home cook, and a backyard gardener. Her dates are so delicious, they’ve been featured in Bon Appetite and Oprah magazines! She shares her favorite date recipes, fun facts about date plants, tales of her farm dogs, and how she makes a point to give back to her community!
