Basket of fruit for a gift

[longtompot]

I'm looking for a gift basket of fruits for my mum for Mother's Day. I was originally thinking about going to Waitrose and M&S and getting some and making up my own as the pre done ones just seem a bit boring, unless someone knows of some which aren't.
What would you love to have in a basket of fruit?

Chocolate and wine

This, maybe with some raspberries and strawberries.

Figs, pineapple, dates, something exotic plus bananas and blueberries

I think the thing with fruit baskets is that you need to try and make sure the fruit doesn't all go off at the same time, as otherwise it gets a bit overwhelming having to eat it all very quickly. So while I absolutely love soft fruits, berries etc a whole basket of those would be a bit annoying and I'd have to make smoothies or cook them into something to use that many. It would be better to choose at least some things which come under-ripe and can therefore be eaten in a week or so?

I think to me tropical fruits feel a bit more unusual and 'treat' like, so a whole pineapple, a mango, some passion fruits, papaya, maybe lychees or custard apples or similar? However it's not really the season for those is it, or for strawberries etc - out of season soft fruits can be really terrible for the environment esp if they've been air freighted, as well as often not as tasty as seasonal varieties?

Fruit goes off quickly so I wouldn’t get too much, especially if she won’t be home much in the few days after.
fruits I would want - mango, strawberries, blueberries pineapple.
I would be a bit confused about getting them as a present though.

@Rosesanddaisies1 do you mean instead of?😂

To be honest I wouldn't be that keen, feels like a gift you might buy if someone was ill or in hospital.
I buy lots of fruit every week and am a bit picky about what I buy. I'd also be worried it would start to go past its best if I didn't eat it as I fancied it but rather which was going off first.
Sorry.

Does she really love fruit? As a mum, one thing I would really love would be a card with some thoughtful words written by you and to spend some special time with my child on mother's day (obviously, when it's possible - it's not always possible when you live far away!).

Until she really, really, really likes fruit then I'd avoid. I got a colleague a basket of food from M&S which she really loved. Had olives, biscuits, chocolates, can't remember what else but stuff that wouldn't go off

To be honest, I don't think I'd like a fruit basket much. It's hard to think of fruit that would really feel that special, and like most people say, it doesn't keep long!
I'd enjoy all sorts of other food hampers. Including really good cheese with special biscuits, chutney etc.

I would love a nice fruit basket but chosen by the person giving it - I wouldn't trust a hamper company not to include rock hard or tired fruit and rely on the recipient being too polite to say anything (as with so many delivered flowers).

I'd enjoy really good strawberries, but it really isn't the season.

I love fruit but I wouldn’t be pleased to receive a basket of it. It goes off so quickly and there’s a limit as to how much anyone’s tummy can take.

Chutney, jam, biscuits and crackers, chocolate… now you’re talking!

I would love fresh fruit as a gift, but I would want it prepared, like cut up pineapple, but then it looks less gifty. That's unfortunate. One of my favourite treats since going low fat is fresh fruit with 0% fat greek yogurt and this fancy "chocolate" sauce from the local health food store. And I would much rather have this than the wine, chocolates and flowers.

I love the idea of fruit and I've given this to my parents before instead of chocolates or unhealthy food. I think you do end up paying more if you buy a fruit basket from M&S but if you have a farm shop near you that could be a good bet!

I'd go for variety rather than lots of one thing. Most people like bananas although some hate them, apples, tangerines, mango, pineapple is nice but a pain to cut, something unusual or exotic they may not have all the time, grapes and maybe dates or nuts as well.

i have also bought a selection of nuts, dates etc as an alternative to chocolates.

Pineapple and mango, too.
Also, wine. 😁

If she enjoys them, you could include some dried fruits as well. More lasting.

One of the nicest gift baskets I've seen (a friend received) had a bottle of prosecco, bag of fancy ground coffee, biscotti, amaretti, nougat, and baci chocolates. Was from an Italian deli.

I got sent a lovely M&S fruit basket once. Was brilliant!

I'd mix premium fruits with things like posh jarred peaches, mulled pears etc, so she has a chance to defer some parts.

I'd love this, I was wanting something like it post-labour when you need to eat lots of fibre but everyone is intent on bringing you cheap chocolate.

Unless fruit is her idea of a real treat I would avoid - nice chocolates, olives, chutneys, biscuits etc have a much longer shelf life and feel like a real treat rather than a 'get well soon' basket.

I love my fruit, eat loads and a broad range, but not sure about a basket as a gift. Personally I would love a nice gift box/basket which has been filled with all my favourite things. Infact my son did this for Christmas 🥰

he got a gift box, and filled it with nice teas / biscuits / a beautiful bone china mug and a sweet little tea infuser. There were little pots of artisan jams/honey/marmalade some jars of fruit in spirits, macaroons, some dried fruits selections and dates. It was lovely, still got a few things left

a picture of my mug to inspire 😀

She has said what she would love as a present is a basket of fruit. I really should have said in my op that it is something she has asked for and not something I am thrusting on her.

Edited this bit as misread some posts😬

She doesn't drink and I really want to avoid any chocolates or sweet treats like that for her health reasons.

I would love an Italian deli hamper, or chutneys and olives, but she doesn't like coffee and as said above I want to avoid anything like biscuits, chocolates etc.

She has lots of mugs, special and other, so doesn't need any more of those.

@thecatsthecats I'd forgotten about jarred fruits! Thank you.

I was thinking of getting things she wouldn't usually buy ie candy floss grapes instead of the usually seedless ones she'd buy, some exotic fruits like passion fruits and mangoes. I'll go down the route of choosing things myself, that way I can pick and choose how much I add and can keep some for me😊

The suggestion of nuts and dates and other dried fruit was a good one - I would love to receive a selection of fancy nuts and really excellent dates.

😂😂😂😂😂

Best chuckle I've had all day!