A Gift of Fruit Sends a Loving Valentine’s Day Message

The fun of the holiday season ended weeks ago, and spring is still weeks away. But Valentine’s Day is coming up fast – and with it, opportunites to brighten up a dreary season.

Though Valentine’s Day is often associated with love and romance, it’s not just a day for lovers. Valentine’s Day can also be a great time to express affection and caring to children, parents, siblings, cousins, friends, colleagues – even neighbors. In fact, an argument can be made that these folks will be more likely to appreciate a Valentine’s Day gift because they’ll be less likely to expect one!

But when you choose to buck tradition by sending a thoughtful Valentine’s Day gift from Hale Groves instead of the usual, tired candy and flowers, it’s easy to surprise even a romantic partner. The trick is knowing what you want to say with your gift, then finding the gift that says it perfectly – something Hale Groves excels at.

The Meaning Behind Certain Fruits

Some people make a hobby out of studying the meaning behind different flower gifts. But did you know that fruit and other food gifts also carry different meanings? When you know the meaning behind a specific fruit, you can tailor that into a special message to your Valentine. You can even send more than one expression of affection and caring in a single gift.

To help you come up with a meaningful gift list for Valentine’s Day, let’s first review the fruits from Hale Groves that are in season and the meanings attached to them:

• Apples. In Greek mythology, apples symbolize love, desire and daring. The story of “The Golden Apple” describes how Paris, the prince of Troy, selected Aphrodite as the most beautiful goddess of the pantheon by giving her a golden apple in return for her promise to give him Helen of Sparta, the most beautiful woman in the world. Thus, the gift of an apple can symbolize more than love – it can also be a statement that the recipient is special, as well as an invitation to start something new. This makes a gift of apples a great choice for a new romantic relationship.
• Pears. A lot of different meanings are attached to pears. In Korean legends, pears were said to represent wisdom and health, while in ancient China they were a symbol of immortality (due to the longevity of pear trees). In Gothic and Early Renaissance paintings, pears represented marital faith and inner peace. Hence, a gift of pears can tell your recipients that you respect their intelligence and wish them peace and long life. (With this in mind, pears might be a better gift than apples for a teacher!)
• Mandarins. In China, the word for “mandarin” sounds very similar to the word for “success.” This, in addition to the fruit’s bright golden color (suggestive of wealth) and round shape (suggesting positivity), has led to mandarins and mandarin hybrids standing for prosperity, luck and happiness. This makes mandarins and mandarin hybrids (such as tangerines and oranges) popular gifts for Chinese New Year, and perfect gifts for anyone for just about any occasion. (Fun fact: a gift of mandarins with the leaves still on it also represents lasting commitment. Hale Groves doesn’t include the leaves when we handpick the fruit in your order, but mandarins and mandarin hybrids make a great gift for a good friend or long-term partner nonetheless!)
• Tangerines. Tangerines are a type of mandarin, so they carry all the meaning of mandarins plus a couple more: creativity and youthful enthusiasm. This makes tangerines a great gift for recipients who are artistic or “crafty,” or for recipients starting a new adventure (be it a relationship, career change, move or study).
• Grapefruit. Like mandarins, grapefruit can symbolize health, prosperity and abundance. But they can also be used to represent self-confidence, spiritual purpose and the need to address issues. Thus, a gift of grapefruit can be a great choice for someone who’s in need of a boost – or someone with whom you’d like to resolve a conflict. (Bet you never considered saying, “I’m sorry” with a gift of grapefruit!)
• Honeybells. As a mandarin hybrid created by crossing a tangerine with a grapefruit, Honeybells carry all the meaning behind mandarins, but we’d like to add that these delectable citrus fruits are rare, sweet, and sensitive. If you know someone who embodies those three qualities, Honeybells are a perfect gift!

Other Foods & Their Meanings

Some of the gifts in Hale Groves’ Valentine’s Day collection include foods other than fruit, and these also carry their own special meanings. Let’s take a look:

• Chocolate. Well, this one shouldn’t surprise you – there’s a reason a box of chocolates is considered synonymous with Valentine’s Day and other romantic occasions. This is likely because the sensory experience of eating chocolate can mirror the intensity of romantic love. In Mayan culture, chocolate was used in marriage ceremonies to symbolize unity between couples. Overall, chocolate has many symbolic meanings in addition to love and affection, including luxury and transformation.
• Honey. The sweetness of honey (which we include in our Deluxe Breakfast Box, along with a honey dipper) has long been used to symbolize love (the word “honeymoon” was coined as a description for a newlywed couple’s first month of marriage). A food rich in symbolism across many cultures and religions, honey also represents purity, truth and strength.
• Nuts. Nuts of all kinds are symbolic of happiness and good luck. That’s why almonds are a traditional wedding favor in many cultures to symbolize good luck and a bright future for the couple. Roasting the nuts with honey or adding a coating of sugar or candy further represents hope that the couple’s life together will be sweet. Other nuts also carry special meanings…for instance, in Asian cultures, pistachios are called “happy” or “smiling” nuts and are considered sensual.
• Cake. The symbolism of cake can vary depending on the occasion, but in all instances, it represents joy, celebration and the sweetness of life.
• Cookies. Like cake, the symbolism of cookies can vary depending on the occasion and the culture, but overall cookies represent generosity, solidarity, joy, and the spirit of giving. There’s something very familiar and personal about a gift of cookies – even if the sender wasn’t the one who baked them!
• Marmalade. Marmalades, or citrus spreads, symbolize home, sweetness, nostalgia, and the complexity of the human experience. This makes marmalade a great gift for family members, or for people who are like family.
• The color red. Okay, so this isn’t actually a food, but the color red (which symbolizes love, desire and passion) and the color pink (a pale tint of red that symbolizes love, romance and warmth) are both strongly associated with Valentine’s Day, and several Hale fruits come in shades of red, including Red Pears (the season is ending soon so you’d better hurry if you want to order some), Ruby Red Grapefruit (the flesh is a deep red while the peel has a rosy blush) and Cara Cara Oranges (a navel orange with rosy-pink flesh with a taste profile that has notes of red berries and cherries). You’ll also find lots of gifts in Hale’s Valentine’s Day Gift collection that come in red or pink wrapping or are embellished with a red ribbon.
• Hearts. The heart symbol is often used to express romantic love, but it can also represent other feelings, including affection, friendship, compassion and care. Around Valentine’s Day you’ll find many foods shaped into hearts (like the heart-shaped chocolates included in Hale’s Valentine Cheer Gift Bag) or gifts placed in packaging decorated with hearts (like Hale’s Happy Hearts Basket Box or Hale Honeybell Hugs).

Putting Together Your Gift List

Now you know what the different foods, shapes and colors mean, so it’s time to figure out what you want to say so you can plan your gift list!

Here are a few favorite “messages” we recommend:

1. Honeybell Valentine Basket Box, only $39.99. This assortment is a perfect example of a gift that’s thoughtful, meaningful and affordable all at the same time. Rare, premium Honeybells are prettily packaged with gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies, heart-shaped milk chocolates wrapped in festive red foil and Hale’s signature fruit and nut snack mix for a gift that lets your recipient know you not only think they’re special – you think they’re one-of-a-kind, a creative, sensitive soul you’re delighted to have in your life, and you wish all the best and sweetest things life has to offer for them.
2. Honeybell Hostess Tote, only $39.99. We’ve filled a fun, reusable red tote with grove-fresh mini Honeybells and Petite Navel Oranges, Foil-Wrapped Milk Chocolate Hearts, Roasted and Salted Pistachios and gourmet Chocolate Chip Cookies. This gift lets your recipient know they’re an important part of your life – someone you value and appreciate. It also expresses your wish that the happiness and warmth they give you will return to them tenfold.
3. Feel Good Cara Cara Navel Oranges, only $36.99. This box of nine, juicy and seedless Cara Cara Navels says so much with just a smile and a wink. With their rosy-pink flesh and playful wrappings, these smiling oranges let your recipient know how much you enjoy their company and express your warm wishes for their ongoing happiness.

Get Your Message Across with a Valentine’s Day Gift from Hale Groves

Whatever you want to say to your loved ones this Valentine’s Day, Hale Groves offers many meaningful ways to say it. Go with one of our suggestions above or shop our entire collection of gifts to create a unique message all your own. Happy Valentine’s Day!

SHOP Valentine’s Day Gifts from Hale Groves>>