Deglet Noor dates wholesale is where Kartago began. We grow this variety on our own plantations in the Djerid oasis of south-west Tunisia, process it in our BRC- and IFS-certified facility, and ship it direct to food manufacturers, distributors and retailers across North America. This guide covers grades, organic certification, packaging formats and everything your buying team needs before placing an order.
What Are Deglet Noor Dates?
Deglet Noor — literally "date of light", for the way sunlight passes through the ripe fruit — is a semi-dry variety with translucent amber flesh and a delicate, honey-like flavour. It is firmer and less sticky than Medjool, which is precisely why it travels, stores and machines so well.
The variety accounts for the overwhelming majority of Tunisia's date exports, and Tunisia leads the world in date trade by value — roughly 23% of global value — largely on the strength of this one cultivar. You can read the full background in our guide to date palm trees in Tunisia.
For buyers, three properties matter most:
- Lower moisture than soft varieties, so shelf life is long and cold chain is not required
- Firm flesh that holds its shape through pitting, dicing and industrial handling
- Mild sweetness that does not overwhelm a formulation, unlike the caramel intensity of Medjool
Why origin matters: Deglet Noor grown outside the Saharan oasis climate rarely develops the same translucency or flavour. Ours comes from the Djerid, where intense sun, very low humidity and deep artesian water let the fruit cure on the palm.
Organic Deglet Noor Dates
Organic Deglet Noor dates are the fastest-growing part of our export volume, and the Djerid is unusually well suited to producing them: the desert climate suppresses much of the pest pressure that forces chemical intervention elsewhere.
Our organic lots are certified under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and carry an organic transaction certificate with every shipment. Organic and conventional fruit is kept physically separate at every stage — harvest, fumigation-free treatment, sorting, packing and storage — so there is no risk of commingling.
If your programme requires organic certification, say so at the quote stage: organic volume is allocated by harvest and the earlier it is reserved, the better the availability.
Grades and Specifications
Deglet Noor is graded on size, colour uniformity and defect tolerance. These are our standard commercial grades.
| Grade | Characteristics | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard / Extra | Uniform amber, minimal defects, branch or loose | Retail packs, gifting, premium shelf |
| Choice | Good colour, slight variation tolerated | Retail, foodservice, bulk bags |
| Industrial | Sound fruit, cosmetic variation accepted | Paste, syrup, diced, bakery inclusions |
| Pitted | Destoned, pit-fragment inspected | Manufacturing lines, bars, fillings |
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Approx. 20–26% (specification-dependent) |
| Texture | Semi-dry, firm |
| Colour | Translucent light to deep amber |
| Format | Whole with pit, pitted, branch, diced |
| Certifications | USDA Organic, BRC, IFS Food, Halal, Kosher |
| Shelf life | 12–18 months, cool and dry |
Who Buys Deglet Noor in Bulk
Deglet Noor is the most versatile variety we ship, which is why it accounts for the largest share of our North American volume.
- Retail brands — branded and private-label packs, where the translucent amber appearance sells the product through a window
- Food manufacturers — pitted and diced grades for cereal bars, bakery inclusions and confectionery
- Ingredient processors — the base fruit for our own date paste, syrup and sugar
- Foodservice and distribution — catering packs and wholesale bags
- Health food channels — organic Deglet Noor sells strongly in natural-products retail
Need pricing on Deglet Noor in bulk? Tell us your volume, grade and destination.
Request a QuoteDeglet Noor vs Medjool and the Soft Varieties
The question we field most often is Deglet Noor or Medjool. They are not really competitors — they suit different jobs.
| Deglet Noor | Medjool | Khidri / Khalas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texture | Semi-dry, firm | Soft, moist | Soft to chewy |
| Sweetness | Mild, honeyed | Intense caramel | Balanced to rich |
| Size | Medium, slender | Large to jumbo | Medium to large |
| Machines well | Yes — best in class | Less so, sticky | Moderate |
| Cost per kg | Lower | Highest | Mid |
| Best for | Volume, processing, everyday retail | Premium gifting, fresh snacking | Snacking, specialty retail |
In short: if you need a date that performs on a production line and holds a price point, Deglet Noor. If you need a showpiece fruit, see our guide to Medjool dates wholesale. Many of our clients buy both.
Packaging and Logistics
Deglet Noor ships in the format your programme needs, from retail-ready packs to full pallets.
| Format | Detail |
|---|---|
| Retail | Branded or private label, window packs, gift formats |
| Food-grade cartons | 5 kg and 10 kg; 20–25 kg for industrial grades |
| Pallets | Standard and euro, shrink-wrapped and corner-protected |
| Container | FCL and LCL to the USA and Canada |
| Private label | Artwork, barcodes and retail-ready cases to your spec |
Full packaging options across the range are detailed on our packaging page.
Certifications and Documentation
Every lot of Deglet Noor ships with the paperwork your quality and compliance teams need — not on request, as standard.
- Certificate of analysis per production lot: Brix, moisture, water activity, microbiological results, heavy metals on request
- USDA Organic transaction certificate on organic lots
- Halal and Kosher certificates issued per shipment
- BRC and IFS Food certification at the processing plant, audited annually
- Full lot traceability back to the plantation
See our quality and certifications overview for the detail behind each of these.
How to Order Deglet Noor Dates Wholesale
Send us four things and we will come back with a firm quote:
- Volume — per shipment and, if known, annual
- Grade and format — whole or pitted, retail or bulk, organic or conventional
- Packaging — your own artwork, our retail packs, or plain bulk
- Destination and timing — port or door, and your target in-stock date
We grow on our own plantations in the Tunisian Djerid and export direct to North America, with no broker between the palm and your pallet. You can browse the full wholesale dates range, read about who we are, or go straight to the homepage for an overview.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deglet Noor Dates
What does Deglet Noor mean?
It translates from Arabic as "date of light", a reference to the way light passes through the ripe fruit, which is semi-translucent amber rather than opaque. It is the flagship variety of Tunisian date production and the backbone of the country's export trade.
Are organic Deglet Noor dates available in bulk?
Yes. Our organic Deglet Noor is certified under the USDA National Organic Program, with an organic transaction certificate issued for every shipment. Organic and conventional lots are segregated at harvest, processing, packing and storage. Organic volume is allocated by harvest, so early reservation improves availability.
What is the difference between Deglet Noor and Medjool dates?
Deglet Noor is semi-dry, firm, medium-sized and mildly honeyed. Medjool is soft, moist, much larger and intensely caramel-sweet. Deglet Noor handles industrial processing far better and costs less per kilogram; Medjool commands a premium as a fresh snacking and gifting fruit.
Do you supply pitted Deglet Noor dates?
Yes. Pitted Deglet Noor is one of our highest-volume industrial lines, destoned and pit-fragment inspected for manufacturing use in bars, fillings, bakery and confectionery. It is available organic or conventional, in 5 kg and 10 kg food-grade cartons and larger bulk formats.
What is the minimum order quantity for wholesale Deglet Noor?
MOQ starts around 200 kg for standard grades and scales to full container loads. We ship both LCL and FCL to the USA and Canada. Tell us your volume and format at the quote stage and we will confirm the exact minimum for your specification.
How long do Deglet Noor dates keep?
Typically 12 to 18 months stored cool and dry. Because Deglet Noor is semi-dry rather than soft, it does not require refrigeration in transit or storage, which simplifies logistics considerably compared with Medjool.
Are Deglet Noor dates Halal and Kosher certified?
Yes. Every variety and every date ingredient in our range carries both Halal and Kosher certification, with certificates issued per shipment alongside the certificate of analysis.
Where can I buy Deglet Noor dates wholesale in the USA or Canada?
Kartago Dates grows Deglet Noor on its own plantations in the Tunisian Djerid and exports directly to food manufacturers, distributors and retailers across the United States and Canada, with no broker in between. Request a quote with your volume, grade and packaging and our North American team replies within 24 business hours.
In short: Deglet Noor is available organic or conventional, in retail and bulk formats, shipped direct from our Tunisian plantations to the USA and Canada with a COA on every lot. See it alongside the rest of the range on the wholesale dates page.