The Cultivation of Dates in Iraq

Iraq is famous for its date palm cultivation. It has the finest types of dates including, zahdi, khestawi, druze and barhi. Dates are a healthy food. Iraq produces an amount of dates that is sufficient

for the people. The rest are exported. Unfortunately, the date orchards have begun to become extinct. There are two reasons for this. The first reason is that the Iranian government has stopped the flow of the water from the Diyala River. The second reason is that the orchards are being sold to land speculators.

Zahdi dates are not very delicious, but they are the cheapest. Khestawi dates are more expensive than zahdi and more delicious. Druze are more expensive than khestawi dates. Barhi dates are the most delicious and the most expensive. Rich people eat druze and barhi dates. Middle class people tend to eat khestawi dates and poor people tend to eat zahdi dates. I prefer khestawi dates because they are delicious, healthy and not too expensive. I buy khestawi dates at COSTCO. They are called Medjool dates in the United States.