Sam Cobb Date Farms
DETAILS:
Location: 22325 Henry Road, Desert Hot Springs, CA 92241
Hours of Operation:
The farm is seasonally open for retail from Mid-October to Mid-April on Saturdays & Sundays: 9AM to 5PM.
Off-season or weekday purchases can be arranged by calling (760) 861-1664 or by purchasing online via there website. (provided below under “resources”)
Tours available on Saturdays (weather permitting) at 10AM, 11AM, and 2PM
Please check their website for any schedule & hours of operation updates.
Parking: Free parking on site.
Cost:
Tours: $22 Adults / $12 Children (5-12)
Dates vary in price by variety and package size.
Time Commitment: 1 hour.
Miscellaneous:
Tours can be booked online at their website (provided below under “resources”) or in person, but I suggest booking online since the farm is located in a remote area, so you’ll want to make sure your spot is guaranteed.
Credit cards accepted for date purchases.
Every great success story begins with a combination of these elements: vision, tireless work ethic, lots of faith, a little bit of luck, and a healthy dose of audacity (AKA - stubbornness). These qualities basically describe Sam Cobb in a nutshell… if dates had shells. And while some would quantify success monetarily, my definition extends to anyone who has the courage and determination to transform their particular dream into reality. This is the story of Sam Cobb Farms, and if I do it any justice, I’m sure you’ll root for its continued success as well.
Following an unlikely path, all Sam ever wanted to be was a farmer. The closest he ever got was working for the Department of Agriculture, but the dream never left him. Sam would eventually encounter all the various date farms in the Palms Springs area (famously heralded as the date capitol of the US) because of his day job. That’s when the inspiration hit. All he needed was that final push to get started. When told by local farmers that it would be too hard to accomplish… well, that’s all the motivation Sam needed. So in 2002, and in his early 40s (along with the blessing and support of his wife; Maxine), Sam Cobb finally made good on that promise to himself.
With little to no help from local date farmers who were hard-pressed to reveal their secrets, Sam forged through doing most of the heavy lifting all by himself… literally. Sam keeps a collection of pictures from those early days where you can see him sowing the entirety of his initial crop single-handedly! And it’s worth noting that Sam was still employed at the Department of Agriculture at this point, so all his free time on weekends and at night were devoted to the farm. That, my friends, is called dedication!
Farming isn’t for the faint of heart, and that’s especially true for date farmers. Part of the palm tree family, date trees are often referred to as a generational crop because it requires almost that long to cultivate. It takes up to 10-14 years for a date tree to mature and bear enough fruit for commercial harvest. 10-14 YEARS! I can imagine that there were a lot of restless nights in the Cobb household waiting for that time to pass in order to see if they had anything of worth on thier hands. “All farmers pray” Sam told us. I’m happy to report that the wait was not in vain. It’s not hyperbole to say that the dates we sampled (and later bought!) are the best dates I’ve ever tasted! And the operation has grown ever since, so much so that Sam bought additional property in the area to grow more date trees. All told, Sam Cobb Farms produces 7 varieties of dates, but he specializes in a particular self-discovered varietal that he calls “Black Gold”. Without giving away any trade secrets, I’ll just say that these “Black Gold” dates came to Sam by a fortunate happenstance. The only thing you need to know is that it tastes like candy straight off the tree. I’m salivating just thinking of it.
Sam leads every tour which is worth the price of admission alone. The way Sam conveys his date farming knowledge and personal anecdotes with a warm and friendly demeanor is an absolute treat (as are the dates you’ll get to sample on the hour-long tour). Yes, this story of an African-American family owned business is the textbook definition of success as far as I’m concerned, and I hope you’ll agree after you get the chance to visit the farm for yourself.
RESOURCES:
Sam Cobb Farms website.
