The true price of California dates

In the U.S., we get our dates from California for about $8-10 per pound.

This is because we don't want to get them Iran. We're still unhappy about a litany of things -- the 1979 revolution, their support for groups like Hezbollah & Hamas, and their anti-America mood in general. Germany, however, doesn't have a Coachella Valley that grows dates. For whatever reason, they're ok with getting them from Iran.

And that's what they do. Four euros for 600g is ~$3/lb.

So y'know, something to think about if you've ever seen Medjool whole dates in a grocery store and thought, "No thanks, not worth it." That's not the way it is everywhere.