"Extreme rainfall has severely affected Tunisian date yields"

Exceptional rainfall during the growing season has severely affected last year's date yields in the important growing country of Tunisia. "There was sometimes extreme rainfall, which is why the goods suffered accordingly. Overall, the 2024 harvest was very weak," reports Walid Tarsim, managing director of the trading company of the same name based in Lübeck. "Particularly in the second half of the marketing season, i.e., from August until the start of the new harvest in October, things can become critical and, in the worst case, lead to bottlenecks." There have also been similar yield losses in neighboring Algeria, where the Deglet Nour variety is also mainly grown, the specialist continues.

Prices are currently 20 percent higher than last year, Walid continues. He does not rule out the possibility of further price increases later in the season. "Although there are always certain buyers who will not accept these surcharges, I firmly believe that most of them will remain loyal to us. Otherwise, Deglet Nour is only grown on a large scale in neighboring Algeria, and here, too there have been similar yield losses as in our country. In addition, most of the quantities are contractually secured, which is why it is not possible to switch at short notice. Finally, many consumers specifically look for Deglet Nour dates, and tastes cannot be changed overnight. Nevertheless, yield losses on this scale are certainly a major setback for many Tunisian producers."

Year-round superfood
For about 11 years, Tarsim Handelsgesellschaft mbH has been dedicated to the procurement and marketing of conventionally and organically produced dates of Tunisian origin. The company has its own processing and packaging facilities and a total of around 300 employees at the source, supplying both specialized nut traders and food retailers directly. The flagship of the Tunisian date industry has always been the Deglet Nour variety, which is exported to Europe in large quantities. Walid: "The date has become very popular in recent decades. In the past, it could mainly be found in ethnic stores and was only promoted more in regular stores for special occasions, such as in the run-up to Christmas. Now, the product is considered a popular superfood that is listed year-round across the board."

© Hugo Huijbers | FreshPlaza.comWalid Tarsim at the ecodattes stand at Biofach 2025. About 30 percent of total sales are now organic, and the trend is rising.

Further growth expected
"Apart from the current supply situation, the long-term forecasts for dates on the local markets are quite encouraging," emphasizes Walid. "We expect further growth in the next ten years. The health aspects certainly play an important role here. You can also see it in the grammage that can be found at the point of sale. Although 200- and 400-gram packages are still common, 1-kilogram packages are becoming more and more common, even in larger chains. This indicates not only that the date itself is gaining in importance, but also that a growing group of buyers regards dates as an integral part of a healthy diet."

For more information:
Walid Tarsim
Tarsim Handelsgesellschaft mbH
Meierstraße 14
23558 Lübeck
Phone: +49 (0) 451/ 9311096
Fax: +49 (0) 451/ 8893437
E-Mail: info@tarsim.de
www.tarsim.de