The Best Fruit Basket Companies

Thursday, April 17th

2025 Fruit Basket Company Reviews

Pittman & Davis

• 20+ options from $39.99 to $79.99
• 95+ years of experience in delivering fresh fruit and gourmet gifts
• Specializes in high-quality citrus fruits, particularly from Texas and Florida
• Offers the best fruits at their peak times
• Competitive pricing without compromising on quality
• Offers holiday foods like hams, turkeys, and specialty items
• Temperature-controlled shipping for freshness
• 4.6-star rating average from over 9,000 customer reviews
• Responsive customer service
• "A+” grade from the Better Business Bureau

Pittman & Davis is a family-owned company with 95+ years of experience in delivering fresh fruit and gourmet gifts. Founded in the 1920s, they specialize in high-quality citrus fruits, particularly grapefruit from Texas and Florida. The company is known for its strict quality standards, selecting only the best fruits for their gift baskets.

They don't defy Mother Nature

Pittman & Davis doesn't make false promises about offering all fruits year-round. We live on a seasonal planet, and fruit follows nature's rhythms. You can't have out-of-season fruit that's also the best, and Pittman & Davis doesn't try to convince you otherwise. They offer citrus from mid-November to early June. You'll enjoy sweet seedless Navel Oranges in November and December, transitioning to California Navels in January or February, and finally to California Red Grapefruit in late April, sourced from the Texas Rio Grande and Florida Indian River areas.

Might not be many options in the summer

That seasonal approach, however, means that your options may be limited at certain times of the year. During summer months, you might only be able to place preorders for future deliveries scheduled for November. If you're outside the late fall or early spring seasonal windows but still need something ASAP, it's still worth clicking on the "Available Now” checkbox on the results page to see what they've got. There should be at least a few items - for example, prepare for pears if you visit in early fall.

20+ fruit baskets under $80

Pittman & Davis offers modest pricing compared to many competitors, without compromising on quality. In the "Fruit & Apple Assortment Gifts” category, their offerings range from a $39.99, 9-lb basket of Navels, Ruby Reds, and Tangerines to a $79.99 Family Celebration Gift Box. This deluxe box includes grapefruit, navel oranges, Fuji crisp apples, King Comice Pears, gouda cheese, crackers, peanut brittle, chocolates, and pecan bites. For comparison, a similar basket from a competitor was priced at $110. Helpful hint: you can get 10% off your first order when you sign up for their emails.

Holiday foods galore

Also be sure to check out other tabs, like "Holidays & Occasions” - you'll find additional fruit baskets, but also exciting holiday foods like hams, turkeys, Canadian bacon, holiday cookies, and fruit cake slices. (We wouldn't recommend browsing on an empty stomach, though - we had to put our credit card in another room to finish this review without making an impulse purchase.)

Be aware of cutoff dates

Pittman & Davis offers standard shipping for all their fruit baskets and gourmet gifts. Your order will arrive during the week you select, but make sure you're aware of order cutoff dates if you're holiday shopping:

• By November 14th for Thanksgiving, arriving between 11/17-11/24
• By December 16th for Christmas, arriving between 12/6-12/24
• By December 16th for Hanukkah, arriving between 12/10-12/24 (dates vary by year)
• By December 23rd for New Year's, arriving between 12/26-12/31

You can find more information about delivery dates for spring and summer holidays on their website.

Shipping starts at $8.99

Pittman & Davis uses temperature-controlled conditions to ship directly to major post offices near the final delivery destination so your fruit arrives fresh and delicious. Their standard shipping rates start at $8.99 for orders up to $15 and scale up to $39.99 for orders over $200 - but keep an eye out for free shipping promotions. For those last-minute gift-givers, they also offer Quick-Ship options at an extra cost.

A new contender emerges

While other fruit basket providers in our review seem to have declined over the past few years, Pittman & Davis is on the rise. Previously, we saw 20% of their customers reporting dissatisfaction via a third-party platform. Now, they boast a 4.6 rating average from over 9,000 reviews, with an impressive 72% being full five-star ratings. The company is responsive to the few less-than-5-star reviews that can be found, and they thank their customers for their feedback regardless of rating. They've also maintained their "A+” grade from the Better Business Bureau.

Customers love the quality and consistency

You'll find plenty of positive feedback about Pittman & Davis's fruit quality and reliable service. Many customers mention they've been ordering for years without issues. (It's always a good sign when people keep coming back.) The few complaints we found were mostly about minor website quirks or customers wanting unrealistic delivery details, like the exact hour of arrival of a fruit basket. This level of customer satisfaction is quite impressive in the fruit delivery business. (We've seen some real horror stories from other companies.)

A reliable choice for delicious fruit basket gifts

We're pleasantly surprised by Pittman & Davis's improvements since the last time we reviewed them. They offer an excellent balance of quality, variety, and value that's hard to find elsewhere, and their customer reviews are practically flawless. This is our new first-place winner for the position of best fruit basket company.

Manhattan Fruitier

• Prices range from $49 to over $300
• In business since 1987
• Options include organic, themed, and dietary restriction-friendly baskets
• Beautiful packaging with hand-printed cards
• Same-day hand delivery available in NYC for open-style baskets
• 30-day refund policy
• Custom-designed gift baskets available for special events
• Donates sub-standard produce to City Harvest of New York City

With over 30 years of experience, Manhattan Fruitier offers a tasteful curation of fruit baskets, including organic, seasonal, and themed options, all delivered in beautiful packaging. Their fruit baskets often include additional gourmet items such as chocolates, cheese, and snacks. Gifts are made to order the day they're shipped, and same-day hand delivery in NYC is available for their open-style fruit baskets.

Browsing experience could be better

Manhattan Fruitier's fruit baskets are located under the "Fruit Gifts" tab and divided into categories such as Classic Fruit Gifts, Fruit and Sweets Gift Baskets, Fruit and Cheese Gift Baskets, Dried Fruit and Nut Gift Baskets, Organic Fruit and Food Gift Baskets, and even NYC Same Day Hand Delivery Gift Baskets. You can also shop for holidays, occasions, dietary restrictions, and corporate gifts. Unfortunately, there doesn't appear to be a way to see all fruit baskets on one page, or to filter the results of any category.

Dozens of options from $49 to over $300

In the $49 to $75 range, you'll find options like the Fruit and Chocolate Medley (containing chocolate seashells wrapped in gold foil and 5 seasonal fruits) and the Organic Fruit and Nut Duet (containing 4 ounces of maple glazed nuts and 5 seasonal fruits). A good midrange choice from their baskets costing between $100 and $150 might be the Spread Sunshine Fruit and Cheese Medium Basket, which has a green pear, a red apple, a navel orange, a mango and a kiwi, salami, cheese, maple onion jam, caramels, and more. If you're going all-out, the $345 Imperial Hamper includes 12 seasonal and "exotic” fruits (we spotted a persimmon and lychees in the product image), chocolate bonbons in a wooden box, dried and chocolate covered fruits, cookies, and brownies. And, like many fruit basket options on our list, you can get 10% off when you sign up for Manhattan Fruitier's email list.

Custom fruit selection is not available

You can't pick specific fruits for your gift basket. Manhattan Fruitier explains that allowing this would turn many orders into custom requests, which they can't handle at scale. Instead, they aim to include a variety of the season's best fruits in each basket. If you have allergy concerns, give them a call to discuss.

Custom design baskets are an option for special events

While you can't customize individual fruit selections, Manhattan Fruitier does offer custom-designed gift baskets for special occasions. They're happy to work with you on unique gifts for weddings, product launches, promotions, and other events. While you can't customize individual fruit selections, Manhattan Fruitier does offer custom-designed gift baskets for special occasions. Whether you already have a concept or need creative suggestions, they'll collaborate with you to design memorable, personalized gifts for weddings, product launches, or other occasions. Just keep in mind that a minimum order size is required for custom designs, so you'll need to reach out for a quote.

Reviews available on some gift baskets

Many of Manhattan Fruitier's product listings come with customer reviews. The vast majority of these come with 5-star ratings and compliments about the quality of both the contents and the customer service they received. While we had a difficult time finding reviews on fruit baskets that were less than a year old, there's a carousel of the most recent reviews across all of Manhattan Fruitier's products at the bottom of most pages that you can always check for the most up-to-date feedback.

Add-on cards are printed on deluxe paper

At checkout, you can enhance your fruit basket gift with occasion-themed add ons, like cards and ribbons that say "Get Well” or "Happy Birthday”. Ribbons are $4, while cards are $10. Why so expensive? The answer lies in their production process. Sesame Letterpress of Brooklyn creates these cards using traditional methods dating back centuries. They use 100% cotton paper that's eco-friendly and archival quality. Each card is individually pressed using Victorian-era cast iron machines, resulting in a tangible, debossed impression. We think the extra few dollars is worth it. After all, if you're looking to impress someone - like a client - you won't want to send them a note printed on cheap cardstock.

NYC hand-delivered baskets vs. nationwide shipping options

You'll find two distinct packaging styles for Manhattan Fruitier's fruit baskets. For NYC hand deliveries, they use open-handled baskets with an Abaca net cover. These must stay upright, so they're only for local delivery. For nationwide shipping, they opt for sturdier hampers. The goodies nestle in paper excelsior, protected by a lid. These hampers then travel in cardboard boxes, with ice packs added when needed. Manhattan Fruitier will also never include advertisements or other promotional materials in your giftee's fruit basket. "After all,” they say, "it's your gift, not ours.”

Shipping starts at $15, delivery in 1-3 days

You can have fruit baskets delivered nationwide (except Arizona) via UPS, with same-day hand delivery available in NYC. Shipping costs vary based on weight and service type, with surcharges for Saturday deliveries. Just enter your zip code at checkout to see an estimate of both price and delivery date. (For a basket shipped to Wisconsin, shipping started at $15 and could be delivered in as little as 2 days.) Orders placed by 10 AM ET qualify for same-day NYC delivery, while nationwide orders placed by 2 PM ET ship the same day. Delivery times range from 1-3 days for nationwide shipping, with NYC hand deliveries typically arriving by 6 PM. UPS may leave packages without signatures to prevent perishables from spending extra time in transit. For any shipping questions, their customer service is just a call or email away.

Manhattan Fruitier offers a 30-day refund policy for perishable goods

Despite not accepting returns due to the perishable nature of their products, Manhattan Fruitier guarantees every gift sent. If you have an issue with your order, you can contact them within 30 days for resolution. They'll either ship a replacement gift or refund your purchase cost to your original payment method. For damaged or incorrect items, they urge immediate contact to make things right.

Charitable efforts continue

As mentioned on their "About” page, Manhattan Fruitier donates sub-standard yet edible produce to City Harvest of New York City. We're pleased to report that Manhattan Fruitier continues this charitable effort that helped it win 5 stars the last time we reviewed them. We find this commitment to reducing food waste and supporting the local community heartening.

No longer takes first place due to limited feedback

Back then, we also noted that while Manhattan Fruitier had a Better Business Bureau listing, it was "Not Rated” because there had been no complaints filed, and therefore the business had no opportunity to earn a rating with its response. It's not a bad thing for a business to receive no formal complaints through the BBB, and this is still the case. However, we had previously been able to find customer feedback elsewhere - which was overwhelmingly positive - and this no longer seems to exist. All we could turn up was a Yelp page with a handful of negative reviews about delivery issues and low-quality items. Without enough independent customer feedback, it's difficult to know if we can trust the things a company says about itself on their own website - or the customer reviews they allow to stay up on their product listings. We still like Manhattan Fruitier's attention to detail and their premium offerings, but we can no longer say for sure whether they can actually deliver. For those reasons, they've been demoted from first to second place in our review, but it's definitely a place we'd still check out the next time we wanted to order a fruit basket.

A Gift Inside

• 14 baskets from $39.95 to $94.95
• Over 50 years of experience in the gift basket industry
• Offers premium hand-picked fruits and artisanal chocolates
• Clear product details with a Contents tab for each basket
• Multiple shipping facilities across the country for faster delivery
• Option to choose different delivery dates for multiple items
• 30-day freshness and quality guarantee

A Gift Inside brings together three delectable brands: Fruitfully (previously Golden State Fruit), LoveBerries, and CY Chocolates. When you order from them, you're in for a treat that might include premium hand-picked pears, small-batch artisanal chocolates, and carefully curated gourmet nuts, cheeses, and dried fruit. This California company has been in the game for over half a century.

Limited selection, but clear details

A Gift Inside now offers a smaller range of fruit baskets. You'll find 14 options where there used to be 25, priced from $39.95 to $94.95. While there's no way to filter or sort the results in the Fruit Baskets category, you won't need to with so few choices. Each product page includes a handy Contents tab, containing a detailed list of what's in your basket. You'll know exactly what you're getting before you click "buy".

Priciest fruit basket showcases good value for money

A Gift Inside's top-tier offering is the Sweet & Savory Farmstead Gift Basket, priced at $94.95 (or $97.95 with a personalized ribbon). This basket is a cornucopia of sweet and savory treats, featuring wrapped caramels, dark chocolate almonds, caramel popcorn, various fruits (oranges, apples, pears, and mandarins), salami, cheddar cheese, crackers, and peanut brittle.

Customer reviews are a ghost town

Among all the fruit baskets, there are only 11 customer reviews, with the most to be found on the Classic Fruit and Gourmet Gift Basket priced at $52.95. While everyone seems happy with it, the most recent review was already 2 years old by the time we got there.

Shipping starts at $9.95

You'll find delivery dates and fees on each product page, but you'll need to enter your zip code first. If you're ordering multiple items, you can choose different delivery dates for each. Standard shipping costs $9.95, while Overnight and Saturday Delivery are pricier at $34.95 and $49.95 respectively. (Yikes! That Saturday fee might make you reconsider your weekend plans.) Your actual shipping costs might vary by a few dollars depending on your zip code and the basket you choose. A Gift Inside has five packing facilities across the country, so your order ships from the nearest one.

Limited customization

According to A Gift Inside's Customer Service page, you can add a gift message during checkout. However, we didn't find where to do this. We also didn't see any choices for occasion ribbons or add-ons anymore. That might disappoint you if you've gotten used to seeing these options from competitors, or if you've ordered from this company in the past.

A Gift Inside promises refunds within 30 days

A Gift Inside provides a straightforward guarantee for their fruit baskets, promising freshness, quality, and timely delivery. They don't accept returns due to the perishable nature of their products, but they do offer to resolve issues within 30 days by either replacing the gift or providing a refund. That's what they say on their Customer Service page, but as savvy consumers, we know that you can't always take a company's word for it. The proof is in the customer reviews.

Customer reviews are scarce

So what do those customer reviews say? We were surprised to find that A Gift Inside lacks a Better Business Bureau listing. Even more puzzling, we couldn't find any listings for this company in our usual haunts or even in some unconventional places. This is a stark contrast to our previous evaluation, where we encountered plenty of positive comments from happy customers. Back then, shoppers raved about the quality of fruits and snacks, and praised the company's attention to detail. They reported that gift recipients were thrilled with their baskets, orders arrived on time, and the company was reliable for gift-giving. But now? It's crickets out there. We can't help but wonder what changed and why these reviews seem to have disappeared.

Harder to recommend than last time

Since the last time we reviewed this company, they've really streamlined their offerings. We miss the variety they gave us before, as well as the customization options. But most unfortunate is their diminished online presence. A company can say whatever they like about their return policies and the quality of their products, but without real customers to verify these statements, it's impossible to recommend them with any confidence. A Gift Inside is saved from a below-average rating because we liked this company so much last time, and because at the very least, we didn't find any complaints about them.

Wine Country Gift Baskets

• $59.95 to $225, with the bestseller priced at $69.95
• Over 35 years of experience
• Offers 18 fruit basket options
• Free 5-day shipping on most baskets
• Delivers to all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii, and select baskets to Canada
• 100% satisfaction guarantee with a 30-day return window
• "A+" rating from the Better Business Bureau, accredited since 2003
• Same-day shipping for orders placed before 1:00 M PST

Wine Country Gift Baskets has been crafting value-priced, quality gift baskets for over 35 years. Their speciality is (unsurprisingly) wine gifts, but they have a selection of fruit baskets, too. Their business philosophy is about creating deeper relationships through memorable gifting experiences, with the goal of leaving a lasting impression with every shipment.

18 fruit basket-ish options between $59.95 and $225

Wine Country Gift Baskets offers 18 options priced from $59.95 (Retirement Fruit Gift Assortment) to $225 (Deluxe Fruit and Favorites Gift Basket), with the latter currently on sale for 50% off ($112.50). If you're specifically looking for a fruit basket and want to exclude items like chocolate-covered strawberries, that brings your number of options down a bit. Their bestseller is the Fresh Fruit, Chocolate, and Snacks basket for $69.95. It includes spicy snack mix, chocolate brownies, sesame crackers, Limoncelli cookies, smoked Gouda cheese spread, Lindt milk chocolate truffles, and more. It has a 4.5-star rating average from hundreds of happy customers who say it arrived looking just like the pictures and tasting just as good, too.

Size may surprise you

Just to be sure your expectations are aligned with reality, we recommend you carefully check the item dimensions in the product descriptions. Some customers have reported receiving baskets much smaller than they expected. A few people thought they were getting a towering gift basket, only to unwrap something less than 12 inches tall. (Oops! That's more "cute" than "wow factor".)

Free 5-day shipping

The majority of Wine Country's fruit baskets come with free shipping and handling and 5-day delivery, which is always nice, especially when their competitors often charge quite a bit. Non-standard shipping options and their prices include:

• 3 Business Day: $9.95 per item + standard shipping charge
• 2 Business Day: $14.95 per item + standard shipping charge
• Standard Overnight: $27.95 per item + standard shipping charge
• Saturday Delivery: $34.95 per item + standard shipping charge

Orders placed before 1:00 PM PST typically ship the same day. Wine Country delivers to all 50 states, including Alaska and Hawaii (with an additional $19.95 fee), and even ships select baskets to Canada. (If you're adding wine to your order, take note: shipping regulations for wine gifts vary by state.)

Returns are hassle-free with a 30-day window

Wine Country has a 100% satisfaction guarantee. According to their policy page, you or your recipient can return new, unopened items within 30 days of delivery for a full refund - though you probably want to act a little sooner than that when your basket includes perishable produce. Wine Country Gift Baskets will even cover return shipping costs if the return is due to their error. To initiate a return, you'll need to contact their customer service at (800) 394-0394 for detailed instructions.

Customer feedback with the BBB is mostly positive

Wine Country Gift Baskets has an "A+” from the Better Business Bureau, having been accredited since 2003. In the past 3 years, they've only had 5 complaints. The few reported problems include damaged products, delayed deliveries, and occasional gripes with customer service.

Trustpilot is another story

On the other hand, customers over on Trustpilot aren't holding back with their complaints. Most disturbing to us were multiple reports spanning years that Wine Country's baked goods - especially cookies - arrived expired and smelled strange. On the bright side, we didn't find any reviews about spoiled fruit.

Has stagnated, but still okay

Wine Country Gift Baskets used to offer 25 fruit basket options, so their current spread is a slight decrease from before. Otherwise, not much about this company has changed. We'd still choose a few other fruit basket retailers over them, but we think this company is generally trustworthy - if lacking in a large quantity of positive third-party reviews.

Edible Arrangements

• $24.99 to over $1,500 for 70+ arrangement options
• Nationwide presence with over 1,000 physical locations
• Same-day and within-the-hour delivery available in some areas
• Option for in-store pickup
• Variety of occasion-specific arrangements
• Customizable add-ons like flowers, teddy bears, and balloons

Edible Arrangements, often shortened to "Edible," specializes in eye-catching fruit bouquets. (Don't confuse these with the other kind of "edibles", though - these are strictly PG.) You'll find artfully arranged fresh fruit pieces that mimic floral designs. These aren't technically baskets, but they are a clever way to gift fresh fruit without the recipient needing to do any prep work.

Nationwide presence and delivery options

Edible Arrangements has over 1,000 physical locations across the country. You can use their Store Directory to find a nearby store, which will handle your order's preparation and delivery. Alternatively, you can opt for in-store pickup if you prefer to inspect the arrangement before taking it home. (Because nothing says "I love you" quite like an overripe fruit bouquet on Valentine's Day.)

70+ options, not all bouquets

Edible Arrangements offers over 70 edible gifts in the fruit arrangement category, though many of these are dessert platters or cookie boxes, not solely bouquets. When we visited, prices ranged from $24.99 for a "Sweet and Petite" Special Expression to nearly $1,500 for the Incredible Edible Spectacular. The latter is an impressive 3-foot-tall explosion of cantaloupe, pineapple daisies and stars, orange wedges, strawberries, and honeydew wedges.

Get your order within the hour

If you're looking for a fruit arrangement in between those two extremes, you can filter by price or occasion using the options in the sidebar. (We don't recommend sorting by "Relevance” - we were first shown arrangements for holidays several months ahead instead of the closest upcoming ones.) They have arrangements for Rosh Hashanah, Halloween, Birthdays, Anniversaries, New Babies, and even an "I'm Sorry” category. If you find yourself in the unfortunate position of needing something like that last option, time is likely of the essence , so it's nice that you can filter for arrangements available "ASAP (like, in an hour)”, Today, Tomorrow, and This Week.

Questionable review system

We were curious about the type of person who would spend $1,500 on a fruit arrangement, so we clicked on the reviews of the Incredible Edible Spectacular, which had a 4.9/5-star average rating from 9 reviews. However, when we looked closer, we had to conclude that these were not left by actual customers - take "Becky” for instance, who remarks she was gifted this arrangement by a "rich secret admirer” and, while it had "too many colors” for her liking, still gave it 5 stars. "Scott” jokes, "My kid will no longer be going to college but she's got plenty of Vitamin C!” Another comedian calls the arrangement "thicc” and says it's a shame they won't be able to afford rent anymore. It seems the only bar to leaving a review is providing a "valid email for verification”, which doesn't seem to need to be connected to an order number. Unfortunately, that means you won't really be able to trust any reviews left on Edible's site - so take their displayed ratings with a grain of salt. (Remember, on the internet, nobody knows you're a fruit-loving dog... or an employee.)

Multi-step checkout process with tempting add-ons

We added the "BDAY" Wish-Tini With Confetti Berries for $99.99 to our cart. After entering a Wisconsin zip code as the destination, we were prompted to pick a delivery date. We chose the next day and had the options of free pickup or delivery. We opted for delivery. On the next page, we could add cute additional gifts like flowers, a teddy bear, or "Warmies" (scented plushies that can be microwaved), as well as balloons, dessert cups, candles, cakes, and more. From there, we entered the recipient's address and could add a free personalized gift message or a splurge on a $6 greeting card. When we finally clicked "Add to cart," we got a notification that we'd unlocked free delivery. Watch out for those state and county taxes, though - the Wisconsin address we chose added $5.50 to the total.

Delivery options and fees can make or break your experience

It's hard to know what you'll be paying for shipping until you get through checkout, but there is a general pricing chart on the website. Same-day delivery comes with a rush fee, which varies based on the store's time zone and holiday periods. For non-rush orders, there's an unspecified standard delivery charge, though this may be waived if your order reaches a certain amount. (Don't get too excited - you might still face distance surcharges for deliveries over 15 miles.) If you're lucky, you might snag their "Delivery in an Hour or Less" offer, but this is only available for select products and locations. For those outside the usual delivery zones, Edible sometimes uses third-party carriers, which incurs a hefty $25.99 weekday or $29.99 weekend charge, plus an additional $10 packaging fee. Also, to unlock a discount of an unspecified amount on your first pickup order, you can join Edible's email list.

Vague "Certified Happiness commitment” isn't reassuring

Edible doesn't seem to have a clear policy for handling wrong, damaged, or spoiled orders. They don't accept returns or exchanges, and your cancellation window after ordering is quite small. We found a mention of a "Certified Happiness commitment" in their FAQ, which pays lip service to customer satisfaction but doesn't explain how they actually intend to achieve it.

An "F” from the BBB, crickets from Edible

Maybe Edible is so exceptional at their service that they never encounter dissatisfied customers. Does that sound likely to you? We didn't think so either. So we investigated their reputation on third-party platforms. Starting with the Better Business Bureau, we found listings for multiple locations, so we focused on their Headquarters page. They're listed there with an "F" grade. We discovered page after page of unanswered complaints from the past three years. The most common grievances involve orders never arriving or being delivered to the wrong address, resulting in spoiled arrangements by the time they're located. Trying to get a refund? You're in good company, but not in good fortune. We couldn't find a single report of a customer successfully obtaining a refund after contacting customer service.

Disappointing reviews across platforms

Keeping in mind that local stores fulfill orders, and hoping for better feedback at the local level, we checked Yelp reviews for Edible Arrangements' stores in major cities near us. Unfortunately, the story was consistent across the board - customers report arrangements that don't match advertisements, fruit that's either under- or overripe, and missing add-ons. When confronted about these issues, some stores reportedly engage in gaslighting tactics, trying to place the blame on the customer. (That's fresh - and we're not talking about fruit.)

A disappointing fruit basket with convenience as its only saving grace

Despite its appealing concept and nationwide presence, Edible Arrangements falls short in delivering a satisfying experience. With an "F" rating from the BBB, questionable review practices, and seemingly more physical locations than satisfied customers, it's hard to recommend this service. While the idea of artfully arranged fruit bouquets is charming, the execution leaves much to be desired. This company escapes a below-average rating solely due to its convenience for last-minute gifts. However, unless you're truly in a time crunch, you'd be wise to explore alternative gifting options or create your own fruit basket for your giftee.

Fruit Bouquets

• Fruit baskets starting at $39.99, with options up to $159.99
• Variety of products including fruit baskets, platters, and gourmet berries
• 20% discount available on first order
• Next-day delivery available for additional fee
• Option to add extras like chocolates or pretzels

As part of the 1-800 Flowers family of gift-giving companies, Fruit Bouquets sells fruit platters, gourmet berries, and flowers in addition to their namesake offering - although most fruit basket companies offer these and more (like plushies and savory items). Since our last review, they've added a few fruit basket options, though you'll need to dig for them.

No filter function

Your browsing options include categories like Occasion, Best Sellers, Same Day Delivery, Sympathy, Other Gift Categories, and Size. We recommend hovering over "Other Gift Categories" where you can select "All Fruit Arrangements" or shop by a more specific type. The browsing experience here is one of our least favorites. After navigating to the general category you want, there's no way to filter by price, contents, or any other criteria. You can sort by price and best sellers, but that's about it.

90-ish fruit baskets starting at $40

In the fruit basket category, you've got 93 options to sort through, and there are some fruit bouquets tossed into the mix. (Again, filter functions would be much appreciated. What year is it?) Prices start at $39.99 for the Thank You Fresh Fruit & Sweets Gift Box and reach $159.99 for the Ripe River Harvest Basket. When we shopped, the bestseller was the Autumn Harvest Fruit & Sweets Box for $50, with 20 reviews between 4 and 5 stars. Need some savings? You can get 20% off your first order by providing them with your email address.

Under-explained local florist order fulfillment

To place an order, add items to your cart, enter your zip code, and choose a delivery date. (Next day delivery was available to us for only an extra $2.99, which was a nice surprise.) You can bulk up your order with extras like Godiva chocolates or dipped pretzels at this point. After entering your address, you may be confused by a significant increase in the total cost due to a "service charge." This charge, which goes to the local florist fulfilling your order, can be substantial ($17.99 for a $90 basket). We wish Fruit Bouquets offered more information about this - our first thought was, "are florists qualified to handle food?” The company only states that these service charges vary based on merchandise price, delivery address, and date.

Products don't always look like promo images

If you're shopping at Fruit Bouquets, chances are good you were attracted by the name. So let's take a look at these ready-to-eat arrangements. The $85 Sweet & Delicious bouquet has pineapple daisies, melon, chocolate-dipped strawberries, honeydew, and more. However, there are a few concerning reviews. Some customers say the fruits went bad quickly, were mostly sour, or that the arrangement didn't look like the pictures. This last complaint is consistent across many of Fruit Bouquets' products. Since these orders are apparently fulfilled by independent florists, it's unlikely that their processes can be standardized. Looking at the reviews with pictures can be entertaining - you'll see arrangements where florists have taken a different creative approach to the product image (like smiley faces drawn with slightly different expressions), all the way to sparse fruit towers with big gaps of kale leaves. (While these leaves are present in the product images, they're usually hidden by closely crowded fruit.)

Passport Program for free shipping

The Celebrations Passport Program, offered by 1-800-Flowers and its brand family (including Fruit Bouquets), gets you free standard shipping and no service charges on eligible products for a fee of $19.99 for your first year and $29.99 for subsequent years. Members enjoy perks like free weekday standard delivery and rewards points on purchases. While your membership could pay for itself within 1-3 orders, we're not convinced Fruit Bouquets has demonstrated consistent enough quality to make it a wise choice. (What if your first order is great, but the second arrives spoiled?)

Reputation in shambles

Fruit Bouquets' reputation is in dire straits. We found numerous reports of undelivered orders, unexplained charges, and subpar products. (Moldy fruit for hospital patients? Yikes!) Customer service seems to be a major pain point, with complaints about unresponsive AI chatbots and inadequate refund policies. One particularly scathing review highlights a $190 same-day delivery order that never arrived, resulting in a mere $20 discount offer as compensation.

Probably better to steer clear

Our overall impression of Fruit Bouquets is that it's challenging to find information about shipping rates, order fulfillment, or customer recourse when things go wrong. They don't seem to prioritize the giftee's or customer's experience, given the frequency and embarrassing nature of order mistakes. Despite its affiliation with 1-800 Flowers (whose companies are usually an easy win), Fruit Bouquets ranks below average among the options for fruit baskets.

Gourmet Gift Baskets

• 16 fruit baskets ranging from $49.99 to $699.99
• Family-owned business since 2002
• Offers a 10% discount on first order with code GIFTING10
• Includes gourmet items like Dom Perignon in luxury baskets
• Offers gluten-free options
• Maintains an "A+” rating with the Better Business Bureau
• Provides replacement for damaged or missing items within 15 days

Gourmet Gift Baskets, founded in 2002, is a family-owned business that specializes in creating handmade, high-quality gift baskets for various occasions. The company, which started in the basement of a decades-old New Hampshire flower shop, has grown into a multi-million dollar enterprise recognized by Inc. 500, Internet Retailer, and Enterprise Bank.

16 baskets from $50 to $700

Gourmet Gift Baskets carries 16 fruit baskets ranging in price from $49.99 to $699.99. On the lower end, you've got the Gluten Free Gourmet Gift Box, which comes with apples, oranges, Home Free cookies, trail mix, and clusters of dried fruit and nuts. For $30 more, you could upgrade to a Gluten Free basket that has beef jerky, Earl Grey tea, and sea salt crackers - but no fruit. On the deluxe end, you'll find the Dom Perignon Fruit Cheese and Caramel basket. It comes with - you guessed it - Dom Perignon, Classic Vermont Sharp Cheddar Cheese, oranges, apples, and salted caramel sauce to enjoy with the apples.

The most expensive cardboard box you'll ever buy

One customer left a review on the latter basket that $700 "seemed a lil high,” for what it includes - and we agreed, so we ran the numbers. Gourmet Gift Baskets doesn't disclose the vintage of the wine in the description, but the label in the product photo is dated 2013. We found that bottle commonly listed for $229, the cheese for $7, and the caramel for about $10. Two oranges and three apples shouldn't come out to much more than a few dollars. So for the pleasure of assembling the basket into a couple of cardboard boxes tied together with a ribbon, Gourmet Gift Baskets is charging you at least $450. (Um?!) Then again, you can get 10% off your first order with the code GIFTING10 - no email address required. (Can you hear the sarcasm in our tone?)

Confusing, expensive shipping

If that weren't bad enough, we'd caution you to keep a close eye on additional shipping charges. One customer did not - and was embarrassed to admit that the 12 covered Oreos she ordered for an out-of-state friend for her birthday came out to nearly $100. When you check out, you'll be shown a delivery calendar with available dates ranging from (apparently) free to $30.99. Tuesdays and weekends appear to incur the highest prices. There's a chart that explains shipping rates, but that chart says nothing about why certain days are more expensive and seems to indicate there is no free shipping, after all - Standard Shipping starts at $10.99. You'll need to plan your order carefully, as fruit baskets can only be shipped 2 days in advance for maximum freshness.

Customer reviews paint a bleak picture

Despite exorbitant costs, customer reviews for Gourmet Gift Baskets on Trustpilot are overwhelmingly negative - there seem to be major issues with product quality and value for money. One reviewer described their $85 "Gourmet Snack & Chocolate Basket" as containing items that could hardly be considered gourmet, such as small packs of Oreos and Chips Ahoy. Another customer's experience was even more disappointing, receiving multiple gift baskets (totaling $300) filled with what they described as "inedible crap," including dry cake pops, mediocre chocolate-covered strawberries, and stale crackers. The only item that seemed to meet expectations was a bottle of prosecco, which the customer noted could have been purchased directly from a grocery store for a fraction of the price. (Sound familiar?) At least according to what we saw on Trustpilot, it's all too common for customers to feel cheated and embarrassed about their gift choices. Some suggest reconsidering sending these as gifts unless you're trying to subtly insult someone.

Substitution policy can explain some unexpected items, but not all

Perhaps, if we're being optimistic, the above quality issues could be explained by Gourmet Gift Baskets' substitution policy, wherein they "reserve the right to substitute an item of equal or greater value in our product.” We doubt it, though. What are the odds that so many items in one basket would be a miss?

They have a good grade with the BBB, at least

If you have an issue similar to those described by customers on Trustpilot, we recommend you take your grievances to their Better Business Bureau listing - the company seems to be responsive there with issuing refunds, and they currently hold an "A+” to back it up.

Fruit baskets have a strict return policy

Gourmet Gift Baskets has a limited return policy for their fruit baskets. Since these are perishable items, they can't be resold if returned. If a fruit basket is marked as "undeliverable" and sent back (you never even saw it due to an incorrect address, you live in a gated community, or you weren't home), you won't receive a store credit. Instead, the company offers a 20% discount on a replacement order. (Seems like a sweet deal for them. Not so much for you.) For damaged or missing items, notify them within 15 days for a replacement. (At least there's that.) However, keep in mind that missing items might have been substituted due to their substitution policy. If you're not satisfied with chocolate-dipped products, they'll replace your order for free. (How generous of them.)

Not worth the price tag

In the end, Gourmet Gift Baskets falls short of our expectations, especially considering its steep prices. You'll likely find yourself paying a premium for subpar items and confusing shipping policies. The company's responsiveness on BBB is a silver lining, but it doesn't outweigh the numerous red flags. Unless you're looking for an expensive way to passive-aggressively express your feelings, we can't recommend Gourmet Gift Baskets. Your money and good intentions would be better spent elsewhere.

The Fruit Company

• 13 fruit basket options priced between $99 and $349
• Over 70 years in the fruit cultivation and gift-giving business
• 10% discount offered on first purchase with newsletter signup
• Flexible delivery options, including overnight shipping and Saturday delivery
• Same-day shipping available for orders placed before 12 PM PST on weekdays
• Satisfaction guarantee with replacement for damaged items at no cost

The Fruit Company, located in the picturesque Hood River Valley, has been in the business of fruit cultivation and gift-giving for over 70 years. Fun fact: the Hood River Valley, where The Fruit Company's orchards are located, is positioned between two massive stratovolcanoes: Mount Hood (11,249 feet) and Mount Adams (12,276 feet). They attribute their success to this unique microclimate, which provides ideal conditions for growing exceptional fruit.

13 options between $99 and $349

The Fruit Company now offers 13 fruit baskets, an increase of two since our last review. You probably won't be surprised to hear that their prices have risen: the lowest-priced option, the Simply Fruit Basket (containing 12 pieces of fruit and a dried fruit medley), now costs $99, up from $84. At the high end, the Oregon's Cascade Fruit Basket - featuring sausage, salmon, various cheeses and preserves, crackers, cookies, candies, nuts, and fruits - is priced at $349, up from $299. To see what's in any given basket and any agricultural restrictions that may apply to where it can be delivered, just click the "Contents” button on its product listing.

Reviews on product listings are dated oddly

A handful of The Fruit Company's baskets feature customer reviews, which you can sort by date. When we visited, the most recent reviews on each basket were at least a year out of date. Due to the seasonal nature of produce and varying harvest qualities from year to year, where the quality and taste of fruits can change significantly between seasons, we'd really like to have seen up-to-date reviews. On top of that, the reviews we did find were a bit odd. The bulk of them were dated the year previous - and all the same day. While we can't say for sure if this is review manipulation or just a glitch on the website, we do find it unlikely that hundreds of people were compelled to review their fruit baskets on March 5th and on no other date.

No more personalized ribbons or add-ons

You used to be able to add additional touches to these gift baskets, like a ribbon with a personalized message or an extra treat, but this feature is apparently no longer part of The Fruit Company's offerings. We wonder what motivated this change - in this competitive industry, it was something that used to give them a slight leg up.

Standard sorting and filtering options

With only 13 baskets to choose from, being able to filter and sort their offerings isn't of utmost importance, but we suppose it's still nice to have. You can view The Fruit Company's baskets by occasion/holiday, by type of product (baskets, business gifts, crates, flats) or choose to see only those baskets that are on sale. (Three baskets appeared in this category, although how much we were saving was not indicated anywhere, so it wasn't very useful.)

No free shipping even on expensive orders

The Fruit Company isn't entirely transparent about their shipping fees. We had to go through all the checkout steps and give them our address before we could get an estimate - $14 shipping for a $350 basket to be shipped to the Midwest. That's not awful, but free shipping on their most expensive basket would not go unappreciated. As a slight bonus, you can get 10% off your first purchase when you sign up for The Fruit Company's newsletter.

No returns, but damaged goods are replaced

The Fruit Company doesn't accept returns on their perishable products, which includes fruit baskets, gift towers, and other food items. However, they do offer a satisfaction guarantee. If your items arrive damaged, they'll replace them at no cost to you. (In one case, this looked like a customer being shipped a single replacement mango.)

Delivery options to suit your schedule

The Fruit Company offers flexible delivery options to meet your needs. For most U.S. destinations (excluding Alaska and Hawaii), if you place your order before 11 PM PST Monday through Thursday and choose overnight shipping, your gift will arrive the next day. Standard shipping is also available, with orders placed before 12 PM PST on weekdays shipping the same day. They even offer Saturday delivery for an extra fee. However, keep in mind that they don't recommend sending gifts to hospitals, hotels, or college campuses due to potential delivery complications. (Looks like your dorm room fruit party might need a Plan B.) If you need to cancel an order, it has to be done before the order is closed or shipped.

Few third-party reviews, all negative

The last time we reviewed The Fruit Company, they had an excellent "A+” from the Better Business Bureau. These days, their BBB listing seems to have gone the way of their add-ons - it's gone without a trace. We were able to track down a Trustpilot listing for the company, but there they had a total of 8 customer reviews, and 88% of them were 1-star ratings. There were complaints about $9 oranges that aren't even as good as the ones you'd get at the grocery store, bruised fruit, and refund/replacement promises that never materialized. (Orange you glad you read this review before buying from The Fruit Company?)

The Fruit Company falls short of expectations

Despite their long history, The Fruit Company fails to deliver on its promise of exceptional fruit gifts. While their fruit baskets certainly look nice in pictures, rising prices, outdated reviews, limited customization options, and concerning customer feedback make this company out to be more of a lemon. For now, you might want to consider alternative gift options that offer better value, fresher produce, and more reliable customer service.

Gift Tree

• Prices range from $49.95 to $124.95 for fruit baskets
• Over 25 years of experience
• Provides fruit baskets, gourmet treats, and wine options
• Offers a 15% discount on first orders for mailing list subscribers
• Option to add a personalized ribbon message for $10
• Provides estimated delivery dates based on shipping method and location

Gift Tree has been creating and delivering gift baskets for various occasions, from personal celebrations to corporate events since 1997. They offer a range of products including fruit baskets, gourmet treats, and wine, with a focus on providing high-quality gifts for both individual and business customers.

10 baskets starting at $50

Gift Tree has a limited selection of 10 fruit baskets, ranging from $49.95 to $124.95. The cheapest option, the Fresh Fruit Mixed Gift Box, contains 12 pieces of fruit (4 each of Washington apples, oranges, and pears). At the higher end, the Five Star Premium Grade Fruit Basket includes apples, oranges, pears, chocolate-covered cherries, chocolate bars, toffee bites, limoncello almonds, popcorn, and more. Between these price points, you'll find baskets featuring wine and savory snacks such as salami, crackers, and cheese.

Customization options are now limited

Gift Tree's personalization offerings have decreased since we last reviewed them. Previously, you could enhance your fruit basket with add-ons like champagne or chocolates, and choose from 15 pre-designed baskets with size upgrade options. Now, the selection has shrunk to just 10 baskets without those choices. However, you can still choose a ribbon with a message of your choosing on most fruit baskets for an extra $10.

Shipping starts at $17.43

Gift Tree's standard shipping starts at a steep $17.43 per gift, with weekend deliveries skyrocketing to $54.68. (Ouch! That's almost the cost of a fruit basket itself.) FedEx handles the deliveries, typically arriving between 8 am and 8 pm. While Gift Tree doesn't guarantee specific delivery dates, they do provide estimates based on factors like shipping method and location. However, during the holiday rush of November and December, all bets are off for those estimations. (So maybe start your Christmas shopping in July?) There's no option for free shipping here, but you can get 15% off your first order by signing up for their mailing list.

The Gift Tree Guarantee: a promise that's hard to cash in

Gift Tree's 100% Satisfaction Guarantee sounds reassuring on paper, promising replacements, credits, or refunds for unsatisfactory products. However, this guarantee doesn't seem to be backed by real customers' experiences. It seems that when mistakes happen, getting a satisfactory resolution can be challenging - it's not uncommon for customers to find themselves emailing multiple Gift Tree addresses, calling their customer service number, and even messaging their social media profiles - all fruitlessly. (Literally.)

Won't leave a good impression

It doesn't seem to matter what kind of gift you order from Gift Tree. Within the past year alone, you can find dozens of reviews from customers who feel ripped off. Either their orders never arrived, or they arrived not looking like the picture, or they purchased a brand-name gift only to receive a knock-off replica instead of the genuine product. Some pay for overnight shipping to make it in time for an event like a wedding, only for it to arrive late anyway. One basket was delivered with a shattered champagne bottle, ruining the rest of the contents and leaving a mess for the customer to clean up. Customer service only deigned to replace the bottle - going back on their earlier promise to replace the whole basket. This company will create a lasting impression for your giftee, but it seems likely it won't be a good one. We wouldn't recommend shopping here.

Harry & David

• $29.99 to $1,499.99
• Over a century of experience in the gourmet gift industry
• Offers 148 fruit basket options
• Easy to sort and filter basket options on their website
• Wide variety of items available in baskets (cheese, fruits, snacks, wine)
• Detailed product information, including individual item weights
• 15% discount offered for first-time orders
• Known for their signature "Royal Riviera" pears

Harry & David, a gourmet gift company with roots tracing back to 1910, has been delighting customers with their premium fruits and gourmet treats for over a century. Founded by two brothers who inherited their father's pear orchards, the company has grown from a simple orchard to a nationwide purveyor of luxury food gifts. Here's a fun fact: Harry & David's signature "Royal Riviera" pears are so named because they're even more delicious and hardier than their French counterparts, originally from the south of France.

148 choices

Harry & David has 148 fruit basket options, so, thankfully, it's easy to sort and filter based on what you're looking for. Click on the filtering options in the sidebar to narrow down your results to baskets containing specific items such as cheese, specific fruits, savory snacks, Moose Munch popcorn, baked goods, wine, chocolate, and more. You can also filter by occasion and price range.

Baskets range from $30 to $1,500

When you land on H&D's website, you'll be offered 15% off your first order in exchange for your email address. Prices start at $29.99 for the All Smiles Sweets & Treats Gift Basket containing butterscotch candy, cookies, butter toffee popcorn, and chocolate truffles. The highest priced basket at $1,499.99 contains absolutely anything a holiday hostess could need to entertain guests in style, including gourmet foods, wines, and a festive wreath. In any basket, you won't have any trouble finding out what's inside. The individual weights of contents are listed, as well as the net weight of the basket. It seems you used to be able to add on extra items to any basket with the "Make It Extra Special” button, but this feature is apparently no more.

No more "Send with SmartGift”

Another feature Harry & David appears to have done away with is SmartGift, which used to allow you to send fruit baskets without knowing the recipient's address. You could notify the recipient via email, Facebook, or text message, at which point they could input their preferred delivery details. The best thing about it was that they could exchange the gift if it wasn't to their liking. We're sad to see it go.

H&D has ruined their reputation

At this point in our research, we began to get a little nervous about what else had changed with Harry & David since the last time we reviewed them, so we took a look at some third-party review platforms. We discovered that Harry & David's reputation has been in free-fall over the past several years. In our previous review, we noted that an uncomfortable-but-doable 20% of their reviews with a third-party review platform were 1- or 2-star reviews. Back then, the complaints were mainly about orders that arrived with rotten produce or poor presentation, but that ultimately, their customer service responded appropriately with refunds and replacements. Now, however, customer service is nowhere to be found.

Real customer stories

One customer ordered 27 fruit baskets 4 months in advance and at the last minute, H&D backed out and canceled their delivery. Not only was no refund granted, the customer was charged twice for the full order. Another customer ordered a basket with lobsters and steaks, which arrived defrosted and warm. They never received the replacement order they were promised. As of this review, 88% of Harry & David's reviews were 1-star reviews. They are now listed with the BBB as "Not Rated”, where they previously maintained an "A-”. (Yikes, H&D. Yikes.)

A bad apple

We're disappointed to report Harry & David's fall from gifting grace. With a staggering 88% of recent reviews being such a low score and numerous reports of unfulfilled orders, spoiled products, and unresponsive customer service, it's clear that the company has lost its way. Given the current state of affairs, we can no longer recommend Harry & David for your fruit basket gifting needs, although they were highly rated with us in the past. Instead, consider exploring alternatives towards the top of our list.