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There is almost no occasion, event or holiday gift that can*t be properly addressed by sending some kind of fruit basket. From humble beginnings as a device fruit growers used to expand their business beyond supermarkets, fruit baskets have become one of the most popular categories of gifts in the country. No longer is this merely a device for fruit growers to send out more of their freshly grown produce at retail prices.

Nowadays, many of the items advertised, sold and shipped as fruit baskets contain hardly any fruit at all. Fruit baskets have matured -- come of age, as they say -- and it's possible to satisfy a gift giving need by ordering a fruit basket from any of literally thousands of suppliers across the country. You'll find that many of the local retail stores in town have some form of fruit basket deal to ship their wares, if not all year round, then certainly at appropriate holiday times. For at least two major gift-giving holidays, Mother's Day and Valentine's Day, fruit baskets surpassed flowers as the gift of choice on a national basis several years ago and have kept on growing ever since.

Built around themes for the holidays, fruit baskets can contain any type, and almost any amount of high quality merchandise designed to make the receiver very happy upon arrival. Christmas baskets specializing in winter fruits -- especially popular in the colder, Eastern states -- have been stuffing Santa's bag for many years. Valentine's Day brings chocolate-dipped goodies, especially cherries and strawberries, which really say *I Love You* to that special person in your life.

Baby baskets send the freshest of fruits for the new parents along with a few bottles of a healthy brand of baby food and other appropriate gifts for the newborn. For Mother's Day, children delight in sending a choice selection of gourmet items to the woman who gave them life. And there's no better way to say *I Love You, Dad* on Father's Day than by sending a basket brimming with Dad's favorite items and a few new ones as well.

Even giant corporations have gotten accustomed to sending out appropriately stuffed fruit baskets to their highly valued clients and special employees, instead of more traditional fare. Fruit baskets containing all sorts of items have become the easiest and most personal way people can give something to one another that is almost always appreciated. In addition to being one of the easiest and most satisfying experiences, you*d be hard pressed to find anyone who's ever returned a fruit basket for any reason whatsoever.