Semi-soft date cultivars (such as Deglet Noor, Halawy, and Zahidi) can be stored at 0C for up to one year vs. 8 months at 4C vs. 3 months at 15C vs. one month at 21C.
Storing these dates (preferably in a moisture-proof container) in the freezer (about -18C = 0F) will maintain their quality much better than storing them in the refrigerator (about 5C = 41F).
That is an amazing amount of time to store food but so long as you are not seeing signs of mold (white fluffy material or other colors appearing on the surface of the dates), I believe they should
Sugar spotting in dates is due to crystallization of sugars below the skin and in the flesh of soft date cultivars. Although it does not influence taste it alters fruit texture and appearance.
