Fruit Baskets Never Go Out of Style

The fruit basket is one of the most enduring holiday traditions, and for good reason. Fruit baskets combine several important parts of the holidays with the promise of deliciously, delightfully healthy and energizing citrus fruit.
The history shared by fruit baskets and holiday seasons is a rich and colorful one that dates back many decades. It’s no wonder that fruit basket makes the perfect gift for the holidays, since the spirit that started their gift giving was probably one of the sweetest and most sentimental ideas ever.

The Victorian Fruit Basket

To understand the popularity of the fruit basket during the Victorian era  you have to remember what life in the 19th Century was like. At that time, scientists and medical researchers were only beginning to understand the healthy benefits of fresh fruit. At the same time, fresh fruit was only just beginning to become widely available for most of America’s and Europe’s populations. Advances in transportation, especially shipping and railway advances, made fresh fruit available in all parts of both regions for the first time.

So, the gift of a fresh fruit basket was much like the gift of a video game system or touch screen phone today, bringing the latest in “technological” wonders to the average person at a reasonable cost. In almost no time at all, families and friends began celebrating the holiday season by giving each other fresh citrus fruit and other kinds of fresh fruit, both out of affection and as a way of demonstrating luxury and wealth in a very class conscious society.

The Fruit Basket In the 20th Century

Over time, the fruit basket became one of the most familiar symbols of holiday decorations. The basket reflects the American sense of rustic simplicity in design, and also serves as a visual reminder of its pioneer heritage. The fruit basket itself is often filled with many different kinds of fruits, either using several pieces of the same fruit or  mixing many different kinds of fruits together, giving the recipient a greater range of flavors to enjoy.

The Modern Fruit Basket

The modern fruit basket contains many different kinds of fruits, usually fresh citrus fruits, along with a charming collection of fruit-based accessories such as jams and marmalade that incorporate their fantastic tastes. Fruit baskets may also come in different design motifs, including the vertical fruit tower and the sturdy, all-purpose fruit bowl.