The Fruit Company

I remember when I was young one of my goals was to ride a bike. Now, for some it just comes naturally: finding that perfect control of balance and knowing when to lean and brake. For me it was not as easy. Apparently the young version of me could not grasp the whole balancing concept. Knowing how much it meant to me, my mom decided it was time for me to do it. Instead of using the bike I had had the entire time, she was able to borrow a 1972 Schwinn bike. It was a true blast from the past. She spent a week mentally preparing me for its arrival. According to her this bike was special and easy to ride and learn on.

The day came when my Father unloaded it out of the car. I will admit, next to my BMX bike this was quite the clunker. Noticing my slight disappointment, Mom continued to build up the excitement, and we started our training. Amazingly enough, my Father was able to escape during these intense bike training sessions. Apparently he had to ‘work’; a likely story. Read more

Isn’t it amazing when someone does something wonderful for another person?  There is such a wonderful sentiment when one goes out of the way to the betterment of another. Many times going unnoticed, it happens so often and is easily missed.  I know for me personally its hard to figure out a great way to show someone how much you appreciate them going above expectation or being there when they didn’t have to be.  Many times its a friend, coworker, or loved one that does this. Read more

The Fruit Company Ten Year Anniversary!

Ten years have come and gone so fast.  From our humble beginnings to the present, our goals and direction have remained true.  We have striven to provide the highest quality of fruit, top level customer service, and beautiful arrangements for gifting.

Our family has been in the orchard business for over sixty years.  Our fruit has been shipped all over the country helping to make Hood River County the largest producer of pears in the United States.  We take great pride in the continuation of this tradition.

Ten years ago we wanted to find a new way to share our fruit. The internet allowed us to meet new customers and friends and continue the excellence started by our Grandfather Roy Webster.

While our staff and facilities have grown over the years, our dedication to you as customers and friends has not changed.  Thank you for continuing to think of The Fruit Company when your gifting needs arise.

It’s been a wonderful ten years and we can’t wait to see what’s in store for the future.  May you have a wonderful holiday season from our family to yours!

Your Friends,

Scott and Addison Webster

The Fruit Company

Crumb-Topped Apple Slab Pie

The buttery oat topping lends just the

right amount of crunch to the juicy fruit

in this oversize version of Dutch apple pie.

Prep: 45 mins.   Bake: 40 mins.   Oven: 375 F

2 ¼ cups all purpose flour

¾ teaspoon salt

2/3 cup butter-flavored shortening

8 to 10 tablespoons cold water

2/3 cup sugar

1/3 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 ½  pounds tart cooking apples (such as Rome

Beauty or Granny Smith), peeled, cored, and cut

Into ¼ inch slices (10 cups)

1. If desired for easy cleanup, line a 15x10x1 inch

baking pan with 18 inch wide foil, extending the foil

up over the edges of the pan; set aside. For dough: In

a large bowl, stir together the 2 ¼ cups flour and the

salt. Using a pastry blender, cut in shortening until

mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon

of cold water over part of the flour mixture; gently toss

with a fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl.

Repeat, using 1 tablespoon cold water at a time, until all

of the flour mixture is moistened. Using your fingers,

gently knead the dough just until a ball forms.

2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. On a lightly floured

surface, roll dough into a 19×13 inch rectangle. Wrap it

around the rolling pin; unroll it into the prepared baking

pan. Ease dough into the pan and up the sides, being careful

not to stretch it. Trim dough to ½ inch beyond edge of pan.

Fold dough edge over and flute as desired.

3. In an extra-large bowl, combine sugar, the 1/3 cup flour,

and the cinnamon; add apples. Toss lightly until apples are

coated. Spoon apple mixture into dough-lined pan; spread

evenly. Sprinkle with Crumb Topping (pan will be extremely

full).

4. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes or until apples are tender. If

necessary to prevent overbrowning, cover top with foil for

the last 5 to 10 minutes of baking. Cool slightly on a wire rack.

5. Serve warm or cool. Cut into rectangles. Makes 24 servings.

Crumb Topping: In a large bowl, stir together 1 cup quick-

cooking rolled oats, 1 cup packed brown sugar, and ½ cup

all purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in ½ cup butter

until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in ½ cup chopped

pecans.

To Bake Ahead: Bake pie as directed; cool completely. Cover

and let stand at room temperature for up to 24 hours or chill for

up to 3 days. Return to room temperature before serving.

by: Cyndi Poli- Customer Service Representative

When did you start working at The Fruit Company and what were you hired to do?

I started working with The Fruit Company in 2004 as a Customer Service Rep. The staff was considerably smaller and our old 1940’s building at the time lacked heating or cooling. After my first hectic Christmas season I moved to our Marketing Department helping build our online presence on Amazon, PriceGrabber and many other online shopping sites.

What is your job now at The Fruit Company?

Currently I manage our Search Engine Optimization, Paid Search Marketing, Email Campaigns, and maintain the website. I am also involved with IT management of our database, reporting, and production systems. And of course, like almost everyone at the company, occasionally help out on the production floor during our busiest times of the year.

What do you enjoy doing in your free time?

Hood River is such as great place for outdoor fun. I enjoy everything from hiking and camping, to paintballing, mountain biking, and golf. Of course being a computer geek I also enjoy gaming on my Xbox 360 and PC. In the past I have also been involved with local theatre productions, although due to my schedule this has been lacking as of late.

What is your favorite gift that we offer?

My favorite gift we offer is probably the HarvestClub Exotica, and I am so happy we expanded it this year to include more sizes and month combinations. When you grow up in Oregon and Washington you get spoiled with the bounty of fresh apples and pears, but trying new exotic fruits has always been a treat. Many stores don’t carry some of the fruits we offer in the Exotica fruit of the month club, and when they do, they often don’t know how to preserve, store, and market them properly.

What is your favorite Holiday?

It’s a little cliché, but my favorite holiday is probably Christmas. I have so many found memories of driving for hours in the snow and rain to Grandma’s house, waking up to the smell of freshly baked cookies, and spending time with family. Without those experiences I don’t think I would be as passionate working for The Fruit Company and marketing all of the great gifts we have to offer.

Is there anything funny or special about The Fruit Company that you would like to share?

This isn’t necessarily about the company, but recently a wild mother cat abandoned two kittens at The Fruit Company’s doorstep. Although they received much love and care from the office staff, they couldn’t stay, and I decided to take them home. These “hellions” as my friends and family call them are actually quite loving and a nice addition to the household.

The summer has been a great time of relaxation, family, sunshine, and so many other things that we value in life.  The sight of fresh fruit growing heavily onto the trees.  The sound of sprinklers clacking and they water the thirsty grass while children laugh and scream as they run through the cool water.

Or maybe it’s the tastes of summer.  The fresh corn off the cob coated with butter and a dash of salt.  The cobbler baking in the oven stuffed full of summer peaches, raspberries, or blueberries.

The vacations taken. Riding on a frightening roller coaster.  Maybe just relaxing in the hammock next to a lake.

It’s been a great summer here and we at The Fruit Company hope yours was just as wonderful.  Don’t forget, time is running out to get the last tastes of summer!

mach zehnder modulatorAs the holiday weekend approaches and the kids get excited for the flashing spectacle that awaits them on Saturday night, the men dust off the BBQ, and all prepare for the social holiday of the year, sometimes the reason and cause is easily forgotten.  Why are we celebrating? It is amazing when actually sitting down to read the Declaration of Independence to see the passion, determination, and dedication that were shown by those men who signed it as representatives of a people that had been trod on and had their rights stripped from them.I feel it is thus appropriate to remember their key words as we celebrate (whole heartedly) the steps that they took to create our nation.

When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States, that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. — And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor.

Even today these words are just as powerful and meaningful.  Have a wonderful 4^th of July!

The heat of the summer is upon us and we are all excited for the warmth! The trees have bloomed and the fruit is beginning its summer long process of growth. Here at our own front door we get the pleasure of stepping out to a view that includes a panorama full of rolling orchards, family farms, and majestic Mt. Hood rising over the fruitful valley.
So what are we up to other than enjoying weather? Well, with the addition of the Organic line of wonderful options, and the ever popular line of The Fruit Company classic items, It has continued to be a busy time here.
And let’s not forget Father’s Day is on the way! Stay tuned for our specials as we get ready to thank Dad for all he’s done.
We have also adjusted to our summer baskets which include a wide assortment of candies and licorice alternatives to our chocolate items which will be returning in the fall after the warmth of the summer leaves us.
It looks to be a good month and we want to thank you all for your continued patronage with The Fruit Company!