Sphinx Date Co. Obtains Rare and Exclusive Dates from ASU Date Groves

Dates Grown at ASU’s Polytechnic Campus Now Available at Sphinx Throughout Harvest

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (PRESS RELEASE) — Sphinx Date Co. Palm & Pantry, located at 3039 N. Scottsdale Road, is pleased to announce it is once again partnering with ASU Polytechnic’s Date Palm Germplasm, which grows and harvests exclusive and hard-to-find dates on its Mesa campus, to bring rare varieties to market. As a result of this partnership, Sphinx Date Co. will be selling the specialty varieties of dates that are not commonly grown in commercial groves. 

“This partnership serves as a crucial way for us to educate our customers on the significance of dates to Arizona’s economy as well as their place in Phoenix history,” said Rebecca Seitz, co-owner of Sphinx Date Co. “Being a part of the university, the ASU grove is not only educating the community and students on dates, but also preserving these less common types for future generations.” 

While most people are familiar with the Medjool date, which is the most common variety grown commercially in the U.S. but may be unaware that there are hundreds of different varieties growing worldwide. Many of the varieties Sphinx will have available from ASU are considered “soft dates” that grew prior to the proliferation of Medjools in the U.S. from about 1900 to 1940s.  

Soft dates require much more delicate harvesting and are more prone to perishability, making them unfavorable to commercial farmers. However, the ASU grove has collected many of the varieties that grew in the Phoenix area prior to the popularization of Medjool dates.  

This is the second time Sphinx Date Co. and ASU have come together for this partnership. Originally, they debuted this program in 2021. Seitz, an ASU alumnus, works directly with Professor Deborah Thirkhill, who oversees the ASU Date Palm Germplasm to develop more interest in dates and bring these specialty varieties to market. Thirkhill coordinates all the volunteers within the program and keeps the dates growing and harvested.  

As the harvest takes place, Seitz expect to receive the following varieties grown at the ASU Polytechnic campus: 

• Barhi/Barhee

• Khir

• Amir Hajj

• ASU cultivar (discovered at ASU)

• Abbad/Medjool hybrid

• Khalasa

• Sayer

• Khadrawy

• Honey

• Rhars

Sphinx Date Co. will sell these varieties as they get them with the harvest. The dates will be available in limited quantities and Seitz expects them to sell out quickly. Updates on the varieties available at Sphinx will be updated via the company’s website and social media pages. 

The ASU Polytechnic campus is home to a rare assortment of 140 date palm trees, the largest date palm collection of any public garden in the U.S. Featuring more than 50 varieties, volunteers are largely responsible for the trimming, pollinating, bagging and harvesting of the trees.  

Dates will be available while they last at Sphinx Date Co. Palm and Pantry as well as online. As new varieties arrive, Seitz will be offering samples of the various types as well as selling variety packs that include an array of the different varieties available at that time. For more about Sphinx Date Co., visit sphinxdateranch.com. 

About Sphinx Date Co.:  Since 1951, Sphinx Date Co. has been the go-to source for a variety of fresh and unique locally sourced products including Arizona grown dates, locally made foods, dried fruit and nuts, and Arizona wine and beer. Since 2012, the company has been owned and operated by mother-daughter duo Sharyn and Rebecca Seitz, who are dedicated to maintaining time-honored traditions of this family business as well as support their personal philosophy of shopping and supporting local. To date, Sphinx Date Co. still hand sorts and packs the Arizona Medjool dates grown by local independent family farmers. For more, visit sphinxdateranch.com.