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The increasing commercialization of fresh date fruits (Confitera cv) in Spain is generating important amounts of co-products which currently are discarded as waste with the corresponding environmental problem and economic losses. The aim of this work was to valorize them, in an integral way, applying non-polluting procedures (grinding, soaking, filtering, or drying) allowing their reincorporation in the food chain in function on both nutritional and technological properties. Different intermediate and stable products with high added value have been obtained: (1) Date pastes with 50% moisture content and the same amount of sugars and dietary fiber (20% approx.), good source of K, Ca, and Mg, with low Na/K ratio,whose technological properties give them a great potential to provide desirable texture properties in some foods; (2) date waters rich in sugars and minerals with potential application as natural sweeteners or as source of carbon for the microbiota in fermented foods; (3) date flours with low moisture and high TDF content (58–66%), rich in minerals, and whose technological properties allow them to be used as carrier of oils (i.e., with healthy lipid profile) or as an emulsion stabilizer in the development of new foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quality characteristics (physical, techno-functional, and chemical) of date fruits (at the tamar stage) of two cultivars ("Confitera", autochthonous and unknown vs. "Medjoul", widely distributed and well-known), grown in the Southeast of Spain (Elche palm grove) were evaluated in order to reinforce decisions aimed at organizing the production of fresh dates from Elche by selecting the most profitable cultivar. Morphologically, Confitera dates were longer and with higher pulp yield than Medjoul dates (4.58 cm vs. 3.88 cm, and 84% vs. 78%, respectively) (p < 0.05). Nutritionally, both dates are a good source of carbohydrates (total sugars (43–48%) and dietary fiber (20–22%)), with small amounts of fat and proteins. The main free sugars in dates from both cultivars were glucose and fructose (reducing sugars). The most abundant mineral found in both date fruits were K, followed by Ca or Mg (depending on the cultivar; Ca in Medjoul and Mg in Confitera). Confitera dates showed a higher total antioxidant activity than Medjoul, corresponding with their higher (p < 0.05) content in polyphenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids (catechin and epicatechin predominantly). Confitera dates should be promoted in this region not only for their contribution to sustainable agricultural development and biodiversity, but also for their higher overall quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]