Processing and utilization of palm date fruits for edible applications.

The date palm tree (Phoenix dactylifra L., family: Palmaceae) is perhaps the oldest and most important fruit crop in the Middle East and North Africa. From this region, the tree spread to other parts of the world and is cultivated in some parts of USA. About 6-7 Million tons of date fruits, belonging to a large variety of cultivars with different characteristics, are produced annually. The date fruit is mainly composed of sugars (invert sugars and/or sucrose) and fiber and, as such, can find a wide range of applications. However, processing applications of the date fruits are limited and new possibilities need to be exploited. This paper reviews the state-of-art knowledge on the compositional and technological aspects and patents pertinent to the processing and utilization of date fruits.