The "raw is healthier" pitch skips over something a buyer actually needs to know: when in the season a batch was picked. That matters more to what you're actually buying than any raw-versus-processed claim.
Sayer dates have a harvest window, not a year-round supply
Sayer, like most Iranian varieties, comes off the tree over a few weeks each year. Stock bought close to that window is fresher and typically better priced; stock bought months later has been sitting in storage regardless of how it's labelled on a shelf.
What "in season" actually changes
Moisture and texture shift the longer a batch sits after harvest — a just-picked batch is softer and stickier, one that's been stored longer firms up and the sugars concentrate further. Neither stage is unhealthy; they're just different points in the same fruit's life, and a buyer should pick based on what they're using it for, not a vague "healthier" label.
Buying around the season instead of guessing
Ask a supplier when a batch was harvested, not just when it was shipped. A batch a few weeks old behaves differently in storage than one that's already six months out from harvest, and that affects how long you can hold it before it needs to move.
Where to buy in-season stock
Green Diamond is who we currently source Sayer stock through. Our Sayer dates buying guide and 10kg wholesale pricing guide go into what to check before ordering.