Edible Arrangements Says winter storms will not impact ability to meet heavy demand for fresh fruit gifts

The weather outside may be frightful in some parts of the country, but Edible Arrangements , the world's largest retailer of fresh fruit bouquets, is working overtime to make sure celebrations are filled with fruit, not fruitcakes, this holiday season.

It may be weeks before the impact on the multibillion-dollar fruit industry is known, but officials at Edible Arrangements say the recent winter storm that engulfed much of country will have no impact on its ability to meet the heavy demand for fresh fruit during the holidays.

Edible Arrangements will use more than 13 million freshly picked strawberries and over 400,000 fresh pineapples in its bouquets and dipped fruit boxes during the holidays, but the company has long had systems in place to ensure the highest quality fruit at all times.

"Our growers are among the largest in the world and are strategically located for any situation," said Edible Arrangements CEO Tariq Farid. "This ensures that when a storm hits one area of North America, we still have access to the volume and quality of fresh fruit needed to meet our demand."

In addition to strawberries and pineapples, Edible Arrangements projects that its holiday needs for fresh fruit generated through more than 1,100 locations and tens of thousands of cyber shoppers will include more than 350,000 cantaloupes and over 235,000 honeydew melons all delivered within days of being picked. Many Edible Arrangements franchisees also provide local food banks and other support organizations with fresh fruit through the company's Edible Cares program.

"We are fanatics when it comes to fresh fruit and we are not willing to settle for anything less than the best," Farid said. "So whether it's the centerpiece to a holiday party, a business gift, boxes of chocolate dipped strawberries, or a special last-minute arrangement for a loved one, we can guarantee the highest quality of fresh fruit that our loyal fans have come to expect."