code: public static String formatDateAsYMD(Date date) {
          String retString = "";
          if (date != null) {
              retString = JinxUtils.ymdFormatter.format(date);
          }
          return retString;
      }
docs: Format a date in YYYY-MM-DD format.
  <br>
  If the date is null, this method will return an empty string.
  
  @param date the date to format.
  @return formatted date.