MEEFERS - Hadley Fruit Orchards

California has long been known—sometimes disparagingly—as “the land of fruits and nuts.” It’s a moniker that the two of us love, and frankly, we’re quite proud to be included among those fruits and nuts.

The wealth of produce grown in this state has made many an entrepreneur rich, and thus is the story of the Hadleys, founders of Hadley Fruit Orchards, a wonderful fruit-stand-on-steroids located since the early ’50s just off the I-10 in Cabazon. (Those savvy shoppers who stop by the Cabazon Outlets while visiting the desert are a mere stone’s throw away.)

In 1931, Paul and Peggy Hadley started their business in nearby Banning, selling citrus, dates, and nuts. Business boomed until a fire burned down their warehouse, causing a catastrophic $70,000 loss of inventory and necessitating that they restart their business from scratch. Opening a small fruit stand on their present location, their business again thrived. Today, it is a successful multi-million dollar enterprise that is comprised of the charming, whitewashed, ramshackle of a store, a huge wholesale venture, and an internationally known catalog and online business that concentrates on their reputation as the date providers to the world.

One of Hadley’s claims to fame is that it created the original (and immediately imitated) “trail mix” as a way to sustain San Jacinto Mountain hikers with a healthful and protein-rich combination of nuts, fruits, and seeds. Their early expansion includes to this day a full line of dried fruits, jams, candies, baked goods, honey, cereals and grains, a huge variety of pre-assembled gift baskets and platters, and what is now regarded as one of the biggest selection of dates in the country. (Fun Fact: Dissatisfied with the quality of dates available on the open market in the ’50s, the Hadleys bought five date farms so they could grow their own.)

While shopping in the store, you’ll be given the opportunity to sample many products. Take full advantage, and decide which of the many available dates is your favorite. For our money, it’s the huge, succulent Jumbo Medjool! (Another Fun Fact: The Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area grows 95% of the dates that are sold in the USA.) Save some room from all this nibbling for a trip to the snack bar. Although you can get better food nearby (don’t miss the amazing fish tacos at Crazy Coyote Tacos right up the road), you might want to indulge in a delicious Date Shake, an over-the-top, definitely non-diet delicacy laced with rich dates. The banana version is also delish.

Today, Hadley Fruit Orchards is owned by the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, some of the Hadley family’s earliest customers. The longstanding traditions of high-quality goods, excellent customer service, fair prices, and generous free samples are still carried on.