Medjool dates wholesale is the premium end of the category — the large, soft, caramel-sweet fruit often called the king of dates. It commands the highest price per kilogram of any variety we ship, and for the right product it is worth every cent. This guide covers grading by size, organic supply, handling requirements and how to specify Medjool properly.
What Are Medjool Dates?
Medjool is a soft variety, markedly larger than Deglet Noor, with wrinkled dark-amber skin, a fibrous moist flesh and an intense caramel sweetness. It is eaten as a fruit in its own right rather than used as a background sweetener, and it is the variety most consumers picture when they think of a premium date.
That premium is earned in the field. Medjool is labour-intensive to grow and harvest, bruises easily, and must be handled carefully at every stage. The largest fruit is hand-selected. This is why Medjool sits at the top of the price ladder and why grading discipline matters so much to buyers.
- High moisture — soft, moist eating quality, but a shorter shelf life than semi-dry varieties
- Large calibre — sold by count per kilogram, which is how the grades are defined
- Visual product — appearance drives purchase, so packaging usually has a window
Specify by count, not adjectives. "Jumbo" means different things to different suppliers. The reliable way to buy Medjool is by pieces per kilogram, which is how we quote it.
Organic Medjool Dates
Organic Medjool dates are in strong and growing demand across North American natural-products retail, and they are the grade where certification most reliably converts into shelf price.
Our organic Medjool is certified under the USDA National Organic Program (NOP), with an organic transaction certificate accompanying each shipment. Organic fruit is segregated from conventional at harvest and stays separate through sorting, grading, packing and cold storage.
Because Medjool yields are lower than Deglet Noor and organic acreage is finite, organic Medjool in the larger calibres is the most supply-constrained item in our range. If it is central to your programme, reserve it early in the season.
Grades and Specifications
Medjool is graded by size, expressed as pieces per kilogram. Fewer pieces means larger fruit and a higher price.
| Grade | Approx. pieces / kg | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Jumbo | Approx. 40–50 | Premium retail, gifting, hospitality |
| Large | Approx. 50–65 | Retail packs, foodservice |
| Medium | Approx. 65–85 | Everyday retail, snacking packs |
| Small / Industrial | 85+ | Processing, paste, stuffing, bakery |
| Parameter | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Moisture | Higher than semi-dry varieties; soft eating texture |
| Colour | Dark amber to deep brown, glossy |
| Format | Whole with pit, pitted, stuffed-ready |
| Storage | Chilled recommended for extended shelf life |
| Certifications | USDA Organic, BRC, IFS Food, Halal, Kosher |
Handling notes for Medjool
- Soft fruit bruises — avoid deep stacking in cartons
- Chilled storage extends shelf life and preserves gloss
- Sugar crystallisation on the surface is natural, not a defect
- Pitting is possible but slower than on semi-dry varieties
Who Buys Medjool in Bulk
- Premium retail and private label — the single largest use; appearance sells the pack
- Gifting and hospitality — Ramadan, end-of-year, corporate gifting, hotel and airline catering
- Stuffed-date producers — the large cavity suits nut, marzipan and chocolate fillings
- Health food and snacking brands — particularly organic Medjool in natural-products channels
- Foodservice — restaurant and catering packs
Where Medjool is not the right choice is high-volume industrial processing: it is softer, stickier and considerably more expensive than needed. For that, see Deglet Noor dates wholesale.
Need pricing on Medjool in bulk? Tell us your volume, grade and destination.
Request a QuoteMedjool Compared With Other Varieties
| Medjool | Deglet Noor | Sukkary | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Large to jumbo | Medium | Medium to large |
| Texture | Soft, moist | Semi-dry, firm | Tender, crumbly |
| Flavour | Intense caramel | Mild honey | Butterscotch, very sweet |
| Price level | Highest | Lower | Mid to high |
| Shelf stability | Chilled preferred | Ambient | Ambient to chilled |
Packaging and Logistics
Medjool 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 Medjool 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 Medjool 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 Medjool Dates
Why are Medjool dates more expensive than other varieties?
Medjool yields less per palm, is labour-intensive to harvest, bruises easily and must be hand-selected for the larger calibres. It also requires more careful storage and transport because of its high moisture content. Those costs compound through the chain, which is why Medjool sits at the top of the price ladder.
What is the difference between Jumbo and Large Medjool?
Both are size grades measured in pieces per kilogram. Jumbo runs roughly 40 to 50 pieces per kilogram and Large roughly 50 to 65 — fewer pieces means bigger fruit. Because "Jumbo" is not a standardised term across the industry, always confirm the count per kilogram rather than relying on the label alone.
Are organic Medjool dates available in bulk?
Yes, certified under the USDA National Organic Program with an organic transaction certificate per shipment. Organic Medjool in the larger calibres is the most supply-constrained item in our range, because organic acreage is finite and Medjool yields are lower than semi-dry varieties. Reserve early in the season.
Do Medjool dates need refrigeration?
Not strictly, but chilled storage is recommended. Medjool has a higher moisture content than semi-dry varieties, so refrigeration extends shelf life meaningfully and preserves the glossy appearance that drives retail purchase. At ambient temperature the fruit remains safe but softens and darkens faster.
Is the white coating on Medjool dates mould?
No. A fine white film on the surface is natural sugar crystallisation, caused by sugars migrating to the skin during storage or temperature change. It is harmless and does not affect flavour or safety. It is a normal characteristic of high-sugar soft dates, not a defect.
Can Medjool dates be pitted for manufacturing?
Yes, we supply pitted Medjool, though the process is slower and yields more handling loss than with semi-dry varieties because the flesh is soft and sticky. For high-volume industrial pitting, pitted Deglet Noor is usually the more economical choice.
What is the minimum order for wholesale Medjool dates?
MOQ starts around 200 kg and scales to full container loads, shipped LCL or FCL to the USA and Canada. Because Medjool is graded by size, confirm both the volume and the target count per kilogram when requesting a quote.
Where can I buy Medjool dates wholesale in the USA or Canada?
Kartago Dates supplies bulk Medjool directly to food manufacturers, distributors, retailers and foodservice operators across the United States and Canada, in Jumbo, Large and Medium grades, organic or conventional. Request a quote with your volume, grade and packaging format for pricing within 24 business hours.
In short: Medjool 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.