This is a cost-effective, is less sweet and darker in color. Dates have long been a common food item in the Middle East where they originated as a cultivated crop over 5, **0 years ago. Today, dates are also grown in the U.S. They were introduced to California by Spanish missionaries in the ***0s. Dates contain no cholesterol and they are a good source of fiber. The dates from Saudi Arabia. First class big sized dried dates ( Sakeri, Khelas, Rothana, Nebot saif ) and dates with honey.