In the country of Malaysia, there is a thriving industry of dates, particularly fruits. Dates, especially in Malaysia are not only delicious and tasty, but a variety of other fruits are available in local markets, giving consumers plenty of choice. The fruits from Malaysia are also extremely sweet and can be used as a topping for many different types of dishes, although they can often be used on their own to give dishes a unique taste. These fruits are an important part of the local food market. They are used to make a number of popular dishes including Pina Bhau, Laksa and even desserts such as Roti Mahal.
As well as being a popular ingredient in dishes, the ever increasing demand from the Asian market means that suppliers now have even more opportunities to expand their business by offering dates in other forms. As well as the traditional date variety, suppliers now offer dried fruits, which are similar to dates in taste and texture but have had the dates removed, making them healthier and less fattening. Dried fruits are also produced by a number of suppliers and are now widely available. The production of these dates is similar to that of dates themselves, using traditional methods of drying and curing the fruit before turning them into the smooth, silky finished product we all love. These products are very popular among consumers who have grown accustomed to the flavour of the product and prefer it over the other options.
There are also some suppliers who produce and export their own brand of date fruit. This has given them the opportunity to create their own unique range of dates, something which they have no involvement in producing. These suppliers often take their produce directly from farms and then sell to retailers, who often have their own packaging and marketing systems. It is also a good opportunity for small local businesses to get involved in the date fruit market by selling their own range of handpicked dates at competitive prices.
While the large supermarket chains may not be too interested in sourcing their own date supplies, there are a number of independent supermarkets who do offer their own range of date varieties. These suppliers can offer the same quality and freshness as supermarket brands, but can cut out the middleman costs, allowing you to buy your date supply directly from the farm. However, this also means that you will probably have to try more than one variety of date variety to find the best taste for you. If you are unsure what you like in particular, it could be worth trying several types of dates to find out what you like best.
One final type of supplier for dates is the fruit farmer themselves. Many farmers only grow specific types of dates, which might be the ones you have chosen to try. Farmers can offer you fresh, quality dates at a price you can afford. If you are looking for a specific brand, however, this may not be possible as most farmers only grow a limited amount of the date variety.
Whichever suppliers or farmers you choose for your dates, remember that quality comes at a price. The best suppliers will offer you dates that are free of any mould, seeds or other dirt. You should also be able to get a guarantee on the date you buy, so that if the produce spoils before you have purchased it you can get a replacement from the supplier.