This Super Food is all the Rage and the Tree Grows in Southern Utah, But Fruit is a No-Show

People are gobbling up what feels like a step back in history. Grown in the Middle East and Africa, dates are becoming a popular snack and people are touting it as the next super food. Can you grow these sweet dates in Southern Utah?

Growing this Popular Super Food in Southern Utah

The St. George growing zone is in 8a to 9a which does support date palm trees. They do well in the hot summers and can survive lows in the teens. The bad news is the fruit generally won't ripen before it cools down.

That means you will have to get your dates from the traditional sources. California is the biggest producer of dates in the U.S. while most come from other parts of the world. These have been nature's sweet treat for at least 8,000 years.

Creative Ways to Enjoy This the Humble Date

To get on the viral date trend you don't just eat them plain, although they are plenty yummy that way. This recipe that combines them with Snickers is hard to beat, but there are plenty of healthy tasty looking date treats recipes.

This gooey fruit offers benefits for your gut with fiber and antioxidants. They are high in calories and are good in smoothies and treats as they are a sweet substitute for sugar.

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With its growing popularity, it is a shame you can't grow these in your backyard and sell them at a farmer's market. Still these palms are beautiful in your yard and do quite well in the Southern Utah climate.