Manhattan Fruitier was opened in 1987 with the goal of making fresh fruit baskets of unequaled beauty and quality. In this country there had always been a strong tradition of sending fresh fruit gifts, but there was very little elegance or quality in fruit gifts. We wanted to bring luxury and refinement back to gifts that had too long suffered the trappings of cellophane, scotch tape, gaudy bows and pedestrian fruit trays. For the design of our fruit baskets, we were inspired by Dutch still-life paintings where fruits and flowers are rendered with lushness and naturalism. For service, we were inspired by New York City's 19th century carriage trade when merchants along Fifth Avenue catered to luxury shoppers - many of whom arrived at stores in horse drawn carriages - with special amenities and personalized service.

We assemble each of our fruit baskets with the greatest care. We source our fruit from around the world and in our home state to ensure that we have the highest quality and best selection for our fresh fruit gifts. Our favorite time of year is the summer and fall, when we are able to get amazing stone fruits, apples and pears from select New York State farms. We taste pieces of fruit from every case we receive before we create your fresh fruit gift. Once it passes our taste test, we visually inspect every piece of fruit for its aesthetic beauty before it is added to a fruit basket. Any blemished fruit is put aside for City Harvest, a NYC organization that distributes food to local food programs.

We also compose our gifts so there is a variety of color and shapes, for example by creating a gift with a yellow mango, purple plum, small orange kumquats, red Bartlett pear and baby bananas. What about the ripeness? We choose fruits that are at different stages of ripeness so that a gift recipient can enjoy the gift over a longer period of time. Finally, we accent the fruit baskets with lemon leaves and field flowers like coxcomb and heather and evergreen and juniper in the winter months

Our fresh fruit gifts combine both familiar seasonal fruits (grapes, apples, pears, plums, pomegranates, etc.) and less familiar fruits (lychees, Asian apple pears, feijoa, carambola, etc.). We also have organic gift baskets that feature only organic fruits and treats (organic chocolate, maple-glazed nuts, dried apricots). Whether it's a seasonal or organic fruit basket, we include our own Guide to Exotic Fruits, with illustrations and instructions on how to eat over thirty exotic fruits.

We also offer fabulous handmade chocolates and chocolate gift baskets, which make great gifts year-round, especially when combined with a fresh fruit basket. Of course, we have dried fruit gifts (nectarines, cherries, apricots, pears, ginger, plums, mango, pineapple) that are presented in handsome keepsake wooden boxes. And, if the occasion calls for a gift basket, we have artisanal farmhouse cheese baskets from the best American cheese makers; prosciutto and cheese baskets; and the best Scottish smoked salmon baskets. Finally, when love is in the air, we always offer gorgeous long stem roses or, as an added enhancement, add fresh cut roses to any gift basket.

We ship our gifts nationwide as well as hand deliver in and around Manhattan. Our hand delivered gifts in New York City are arranged in open willow baskets covered by our signature reusable Abaca netted bags (perfect for your next trip to the farmer's market) that protects the baskets' contents without disguising their beauty. Gift baskets shipped nationwide are assembled in keepsake willow hampers with lids that ensure that the fruit will arrive in pristine condition.

We sincerely hope that you enjoy your experience of Manhattan Fruitier.