This week, shoppers in Manhattan’s grocery stores are finding more than just apples and bananas in the snack section. Dates—once limited to specialty grocers—now fill displays at chains like Fairway and Whole Foods. Packages tout fillings like peanut butter, tahini, and chocolate. Some are rolled in coconut or coated in seeds. Prices range from $4.99 for a basic pack to $9.99 for premium versions.
At a Tribeca Gristedes on Wednesday afternoon, a refrigerated endcap held five brands of stuffed dates. A store manager said they began restocking the shelf twice daily since early May. Nearby, a customer picked up a box labeled “cacao almond crunch.”
The surge comes as snack brands promote dates for their fiber and natural sweetness. Social media posts highlight the fruit’s chewy texture and use as an alternative to processed sweets. In Brooklyn, one start-up founder cited demand from parents seeking school-safe snacks.
Nutritionists note the fruit’s high sugar content, but say its fiber and minerals set it apart from candy. Some brands now include dates in blended bars and energy bites. At several bodegas in Astoria and Flatbush, staff reported customers asking for “date snacks” by name.
As the school year winds down and festival season ramps up, stores expect sales to stay high. For now, the wrinkled fruit’s presence among New York snack shelves appears set to continue through the summer.