Medjool dates are so sweet that they are often used as a sugar substitute, and have been called "nature's candy." These large dates are light in color and loaded with antioxidants, potassium, fiber, magnesium, copper, iron, and vitamin B, nutrients that can reduce the risk of heart disease, regulate blood sugar, lower cholesterol, and more.

Medjools and other dates also require quite a lot of labor. To harvest fruit from date palm trees, growers hand-pollinate each tree by climbing the 40 to 50 feet tall trunks several times a season; the grower also has to trim sharp thorns, remove ripe dates for proper airflow and sunlight, and and cover the fruit in protective burlap or nylon.