Edible Arrangements Has The Perfect, Delicious Gift For All Occasions

By Kelly Miller

Are you looking to add a little “wow” factor to your gift giving? Few gifts are more impressive, delicious and appreciated than an Edible Arrangements™ fresh fruit bouquet! Owner Dipti Patel offers a variety of choices to fit any budget at her store, located in the Shops at Mystic Oak (next to Dunkin’ Donuts) in Seven Oaks facing Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

Edible Arrangements™, which has more than 1,200 stores across the globe, provides thoughtful, unique gift baskets for every occasion, including birthdays, holidays, baby showers, business gifts, graduation, get well, thank you and sympathy.

“We even have one Realtor who gives her clients a fresh fruit bouquet (which is arranged in a cute ceramic house), when closing on a home,” Patel explains.. No matter what the gift, Patel’s shop has a variety of containers to choose from, which can be reused once the fruit has been eaten. From a princess bowl with a detachable crown to a new baby gift container that has a picture holder on the front (that can be used later to hold baby wipes), an Edible Arrangements™ bouquet container can be reused for years to come.

The store opened in 2007, but Patel bought the franchise from the previous owner in January of 2013. In the past, Patel has owned a pharmacy and since then, her family has been involved in numerous businesses, including a hotel, dry cleaners and even a Hallmark shop. She says she decided to purchase an Edible Arrangements™ franchise because of her own love of fresh fruit.

“People light up when they receive one of my bouquets,” Patel says. “I love being able to bring a smile to their faces.”

Since taking over Edible Arrangements™, Patel has remodeled the front of the store and purchased an additional refrigerated delivery van. Having two vehicles at her location ensures quicker delivery to the large territory her store covers— Bayonet Point, Dade City, Hudson, Land O’Lakes, Lutz, New Port Richey, Odessa, Saint Leo, San Antonio, Spring Hill, Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

If customers choose, they can pick up arrangements in the store after ordering online or calling ahead. A quick, half-hour turnaround is available and sometimes bouquets can be arranged even faster. Since the store receives daily fruit deliveries, all items are made to order, which means the fruit always is sent out at the peak of freshness.

While you’re in the Wesley Chapel Edible Arrangements™, be sure to pick up something for yourself. Try a piece of hand-dipped, chocolate-covered fruit or one of the store’s signature pineapple pops in a variety of fun fruit shapes.

Edible Arrangements™ offers a variety of choices. Besides fresh fruit bouquets, Patel also has boxes of dipped fruits, including strawberries, pineapples, bananas, oranges and apples. During the summer, the store also offer seasonal fruits such as watermelon, mango, kiwi and the newest item, raspberries. The fruit can be dipped in gourmet white chocolate or gourmet semi-sweet chocolate. Toppings also are available, including almonds, coconuts, cinnamon, chocolate chips (micro or mini), sprinkles and white chocolate shavings.

A Gift For Any Occasion

If you can think of a gift-giving occasion, the fresh fruit fanatics at Edible Arrangements™ can put together a stunning bouquet for it. Patel offers fruit die-cuts in various shapes like Hello Kitty, Mickey Mouse and even high-heeled shoes. You can even add balloons and a bear that holds one chocolate-dipped strawberry in its paw.

Another option for that special someone in your life is a rose box. For a rose box, Patel takes one or two dozen strawberries, coats them in chocolate and your choice of toppings, and attaches them to long stems, imitating long-stemmed red roses. Or, maybe a girlfriend’s going through a rough patch and you want to send her a Fun Lovin-tini™. She’ll receive a beautiful and cheerful bouquet of fresh fruit in a large plastic martini glass.

Edible Arrangements™ also caters special events with platters full of chocolate-covered fresh fruit for business luncheons or even creating uniquely stunning centerpieces for weddings.

Mark, a customer who lives in Dade City, left his Lutz business, Suncoast Veterinary Care Center, at lunchtime to pick up a fresh fruit bouquet for his daughter.

“I’m going to surprise her with this graduation gift at school,” Mark explains. “She’ll love being able to share it with her friends.”

Patel lives in Seven Oaks with her husband Raahul and son Koosh, who is a student at Wiregrass Ranch High. Her daughter, a University of Florida (Gainesville) graduate, works at Tampa General Hospital.

Giving back to the community also is important to Patel and to the parent company of Edible Arrangements™, which partners with the National Breast Cancer Foundation. During Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October, ten percent of the store’s sales is donated to the foundation. Locally, Patel supports area schools and churches. Anytime a school is holding a raffle or fund raiser, Patel gladly donates a certificate for one free arrangement to be raffled off.

Best Fruit Ever

When I walked into Edible Arrangements™, fresh tropical smells instantly surrounded me and started my mouth watering. Luckily, I got to try some of the fruit dipped in gourmet chocolate. My favorite was the apple slice dipped in semi-sweet chocolate. I can honestly say that it may have been the crispest apple I’ve ever bitten into. When I crunched into it, the juicy flavor burst in my mouth, and the succulent chocolate had me licking my fingers and wanting more.

Check out the Edible Arrangement’s™ coupon on page 36 of this issue for $5 off any order. The store is open Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m., and 8 a.m.–5 p.m. on Saturday. The Wesley Chapel store is located at 3749 BBD Blvd. You also can order online at EdibleArrangements.com or call 929-7362.