Yanbu al-nakhl: As summer draws to an end, farmers in Yanbu Al-Nakhl enter the Al-Jidad season, marking the final stage of the palm season, when the remaining dates are collected from palm trees and harvested according to the varieties and ripeness of the trees.
According to Saudi Press Agency, Yanbu Al-Nakhl is among the areas where the date harvest season begins earlier than in several other regions, signaling the start of a new phase of preparation and marketing.
Farmer Abdulrahman Abu Daeij told the Saudi Press Agency that the Al-Jidad of dates represents the culmination of a long season of caring for palm trees and continuous work for farmers in Yanbu Al-Nakhl. He noted that farmers prepare for this stage by harvesting the remaining fruits according to palm varieties and their ripening dates, describing it as the harvest of an entire year's effort.
The farmer explained that the Al-Jidad season was traditionally a social occasion during which village residents gathered and worked together to collect dates, reflecting the nature of agricultural life, which was built on cooperation and solidarity among community members.
Abu Daeij stressed that dates were not merely an agricultural crop, but a source of livelihood and economic activity for the area's residents. He added that abundant production enabled dates to be transported by caravans to distant areas, reflecting the economic importance dates held in the lives of the local population.
With changes in farming and harvesting methods, he noted that the process has evolved, with greater reliance today on labor and modern collection methods. However, interest in the season has not declined, as farmers continue working to develop the date harvest while preserving its traditions.
Abu Daeij concluded by stressing that Al-Jidad represents more than a harvesting process. It marks the end of a season of work and the continuation of an agricultural and economic heritage. Part of the crop is directed toward trade, with sales continuing in markets inside and outside the Kingdom, confirming the enduring economic value of dates alongside their heritage value.