Fresh dates are not the only organic goodies on Ripe n Raw Organics’ stall tables at Davies Park Market each weekend. Ripe n Raw sells all sorts of 100 percent certified organic produce including basic staple fruit, vegetables and greens, plus some special extras like kale, herbs, rocket, mushrooms, squash, snow peas, capsicum, pears, kiwifruit, pineapples and mandarines. Ripe n Raw also sells a few organic grocery items such as fresh prunes, canned goods, juices, oats, coconut water and coconut oil.

Stock your market basket to the brim with organic goodness at Ripe n Raw and then head home and try out some of these great ways to use dates in your cooking. Combine dates with almonds or pecans to make a butter; toss a couple in the blender to sweeten up your morning smoothie; process with pecans or almonds to make a simple pie crust; blend dates with vanilla, almond butter, Himalayan salt and maple syrup for a memorable caramel dip; or use some finely chopped dates to sweeten up a raw salad. Once you have used dates to reduce your processed sugar intake, you’ll find it hard to go back!