Mail Fruit for Less

Before there were refrigerators, human beings had to devise reliable ways of preserving certain foods. One of the first preservation methods was drying fruits and vegetables out in the sun. Raisins (dried grapes) have been around for more than six thousand years. Other popular fruits like plums, figs, apricots, and dates were later dried and stored. Why were fruits dried?

In ancient times, fresh food was not always available, especially in the wintertime. As a result, food preservation was often the difference between life and death. Fruits and vegetables were typically placed in the sun until all of the water had been removed. Once the water was gone, microorganisms were not able to grow, which meant that the food could be preserved indefinitely. Why are fruits dried today?

With modern refrigeration, there is obviously no need to dry fruit for preservation. But some people find that they actually prefer dried fruits to fresh ones. They find the taste of these fruits much sweeter, almost like candy. After all, when all of the water is removed, the natural sugars in the fruits become more concentrated, which is why raisins are much sweeter than plums.

In recent years, dried fruit baskets have become an increasingly popular choice for businesses and individuals to send on special occasions. Often combined with nuts and other comestibles, dried baskets are offered by most online companies that mail fruit. Why choose a dried basket over a fresh one?

Even when it is refrigerated, fresh fruit will not last for all that long, often only a week or two. And when businesses send each other fruit baskets, they often send enormous baskets that can be enjoyed by the entire office. But because they typically end up sitting on a counter in the lunchroom for weeks, the fruit often spoils and has to be discarded. By comparison, a dried fruit basket can and will last indefinitely. Employees can enjoy it a handful at a time for several weeks, months, or as long as it takes to finish.

When ordering mail fruit, variety is another important consideration. Most fresh fruit baskets only offer three or four different kinds of fruit, typically oranges, apples, and pears. The more exotic baskets that contain kiwis, pineapples, and mangos are quite expensive. By comparison, the average dried fruit basket offers a much larger selection of popular fruits. The baskets that we reviewed contained dried apples, apricots, prunes, dates, sweet pears, cherries, figs, dates and pineapple slices. They are essentially sample baskets where almost anyone can find a dried fruit they like.

What to look for? When searching for a dried fruit basket online, it is important to consider the preservation process. In order to save time and money, many growers add chemicals and sugars to their dried fruits. This often results in fruit that tastes artificial or simply too sweet. That is why it is important to find a company that sells fruit that is dried in the sun. Now, it might cost a few dollars more, but trust us, you will taste the difference.

Taste the Sunshine with Hale Groves

At Hale Groves, we believe the best gifts come from the land, not a factory. For generations, our fruit has been grown slowly under the Florida sun, picked at its peak, and delivered fresh to your door. From sweet Navel Oranges to rare Honeybells, every gift shares the simple joy of real flavor—perfect for holidays, milestones, or everyday moments worth celebrating.

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