The History of Coachella's Iconic Dates

If you drive South East of Palm Springs through the Eastern Coachella Valley, it's easy to get a little overwhelmed by the date palm trees. They reach as tall as 70 feet, and they're everywhere, filling thousands of acres. Dates aren't native to the Coachella Valley, but they gave this region an identity and became a top crop. Reporter Lisa Morehouse visited last spring, and got curious about the history of dates, and about the "palmeros," or palm workers, who tend them.