After several more years, offshoots from these were removed and distributed to a few growers. About seven years later, the first quality Medjool dates were harvested. In 1948 the Medjool was introduced into the Bard Valley. Soil and water conditions in this valley, along with conducive weather and the use of only organic fertilizers, permit the harvest of the best quality Medjools of any area. This is the source of the world famous Sahara Jumbo Medjool.
Operations begin with pollination of the female flowers of the mother palm in the early spring.
Pollen is collected from the male palms and applied delicately to the female flowers. As the tiny seeds germinate and begin to grow, the flower bunch gains size. To eventually realize the large Medjools, the thinning process now begins. Many strands are removed from the bunch centers to allow room for growth and exposure to the sun and air circulation. A month or so later, the little fruit buds are about one quarter inch in diameter and the thinning on each strand, which allows even more expansion for the growth of this large date, is begun.