“Hadiklaim, the Israeli date growers' co-operative, has been credited by business analysts Bloomberg Credit with rebranding dates as a must-have recipe ingredient.” They are Israel’s “largest date producer and exporter of organic and non-organic dates and date products.” In 2025, the UN Database on Businesses Active in the Settlements, listed Hadiklaim Israel Date Growers Cooperative Ltd as amongst the “business enterprises no longer involved in listed activities”. However, as of 5 February 2026 we have identified Hadiklaim Medjoul dates in Canada being sold under their King Solomon brand. These dates, at multiple stores (Fiesta Foods and The Big Carrot), are labelled as “Produce of Israel” and the grower is listed as “Nativ Hagdud”. Nativ (or Netiv) Hagdud is an illegal settlement located north of al-’Auja, Jericho and southeast of Al Mughayyir, Ramallah. The settlers there are living on 215 dunums of Palestinian land unlawfully appropriated from Fasayi and 993 dunums of Palestinian land unlawfully appropriated from Al-Auja.

Mehadrin “is Israel’s largest grower and exporter of citrus, avocado, dates, and other fruits and vegetables.” It markets agricultural products from illegal settlements, owns grapefruit plantations in the Jordan Valley, and exports dates grown in illegal settlements. Mehadrin also “employs hundreds of Palestinian harvest workers from the occupied West Bank. According to the company's annual report, they cost the company less than Israeli workers, who receive a higher salary.” To date in 2026, we have identified Mehadrin products at Costco and various Loblaws branded stores. The dates are being sold under the Mehadrin brand name at Costco and under the Carroseul brand name by Loblaws.

The production and sale of Medjoul dates by Israeli companies is exploitation. It is rooted in the historic and ongoing genocide of Palestinians. This is not isolated to the West Bank, including East Jerusalem or the Gaza Strip. The settlement of Palestine is the result of continuing criminal acts on both sides of the Green Line. The produce that is grown and sold is a result of continued land appropriations, pillage of natural resources, and continued forced displacement of Palestinian landowners from their lands and properties. Regardless of which side of the Green Line that the products come from, these products rely on the entrenchment of Israeli occupation and discriminatory policies and practices of apartheid.

The impact includes but is not limited to land appropriation, exploitation of Palestinian labour, exploitation of natural resources, entrenchment of Israeli occupation and apartheid, and the genocide in Gaza. Meanwhile, Israeli settlers are given preferential treatment, access to resources, and freedom of movement. Institutional collaboration and funding are also essential for the maintenance and expansion of the Israeli agricultural sector in the largely annexed West Bank. For instance, the settler Jordan Valley Agricultural Research and Development Station is supported not only by Israel’s Ministry of Agriculture, but also by the Jewish National Fund (JNF) and the World Zionist Organization (WZO). Both organizations receive funding from Canadian charities including the United Israel Appeal of Canada (UIAC) and JNF Canada (now Friends of JNF Canada).

Various entities, government agencies, and individuals are potentially facilitating serious international and domestic law violations, including:

• The war crime of pillage;
• Failing to differentiate goods from occupied territory in the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement;
• Land appropriation;
• Transfer of civilian population;
• The crime of apartheid;
• Aiding and abetting;
• Laundering proceeds of crime.

We demand an immediate end to the importation and sale of all Israeli dates into Canada, in alignment with international and domestic law.

For more information and sources, check out the full report. You can also contact [email protected]