Fruiting date palm tree (© Noam Armonn/Corbis)

【July 9 2013】Date palms are now grown in Mexico and parts of the southern United States, but the fruit-bearing trees are believed to originate in Iraq. The fruit is a staple food in the Middle East and around the Mediterranean. During the Islam holy month of Ramadan, which begins today, dates are often part of the meal eaten after sundown when fasting is done. Explore breathtaking Gallery from the HuluTrip homepage over the past 5 years..