Is Big Always Bad?

Is big always bad?

We are ardent supporters of local businesses and love when we find a small batch maker who produces delicious product we can put in our baskets and bring to you. Our shelves are filled with their product and we are always finding more. The search is always on. Yet we don’t want to neglect the larger producers who are sustainable and do it right. Because of their production capabilities, they can often bring prices down for those who have a budget and yet can have a positive impact when they use good practices on a large scale.

So we are always researching the companies we buy from, checking their sourcing, especially important for our chocolate makers as there are still many bad practices going on in that industry. We are relieved when we find a giant like Cadbury now using Fair Trade Chocolate on all their products made in England. Sadly the items Hershey makes for them in the U.S (mainly those popular Easter Eggs) can’t make that claim. So, if you don’t see some of the more popular brands in our baskets, there is usually an explanation. A choice was made.

Being in California, we are fortunate to have a plethora of organic and sustainable producers within a day of us. California themed gift baskets will always be prominent on our site and are often the perfect welcome to someone at a hotel or to represent a business that is located in California.

It is a bit of a balancing act. We love our local cheese makers but don’t want to forget the fabulous Basque shepherds and cheesemakers whom we met recently in the Pyrenees. They, too, have families (and animals) to support. Many cheeses like Gruyere can only be made by in quantity with milk from cooperatives to get the designated origin status. I wouldn’t want to ignore this important cheese in our selections just because it doesn’t come from a small maker.

And shouldn’t we be celebrating the winemaker in France who converted his whole vineyard to organic as well as the guy down the street who came up with a great idea of coconut curry popcorn and managed to get it produced? Different size companies but both making positive impacts in the world.

The world is full of fragrance and flavor.
Searching and investigating is part of our job.
From taking your order, preparing your gift and deciding who to support – we take it all personally.