Logo urged for Madinah dates to check fraud

Agricultural researchers and experts interested in the Saudi date industry have recommended that Madinah dates be stamped with a logo to differentiate them from other dates and curb the phenomenon of fraud and sale of dates claimed to be from the Prophet’s city.
This came in an introductory meeting held recently by the Center of Palms and Dates Research at the Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of members of the board of directors and heads of the committees.
Experts pointed out that many distributors try to sell ordinary dates in international conferences claiming that they are from Madinah.
The Madinah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) secretary general stressed the importance of Madinah dates being in high demand.
This uniqueness gives the Madinah date an advantage over other dates as they originate from the city of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) giving the Madinah dates a special status.
The secretary general said it MCCI supports this industry through continuous communications among the chamber’s committees. He expressed appreciation for the role of the Center of Palms And Dates Research in supporting this strategic product. Dr. Abdulrahman Abdulaziz Al-Janubi, CEO of the National Center for palms and dates talked about the services provided by the center, listing the center’s achievements during the previous period and presented the center’s future strategy to serve this important sector.
Al-Janubi put forward a number of mechanisms for the participation of date exporters in foreign fairs and festivals and discussed ways to present the product according to world-class standards. He added that the center is keen on improving the quality of Saudi dates.
He said the Kingdom consumes around 800,000 tons of dates where there is a surplus of an estimated 300,000 tons. While the agriculture rates are increasing and the Kingdom’s consumption is steady, there’s a need to consider them asa source of wealth and not only as food.
Al-Janubi said the Kingdom exports more than 70,000 tons of dates, 30 percent of which are represented in gifts and sadaka (charity).