Green Christmas Hampers

Taste Christmas Hampers

Fruit Baskets for Occasions

Corporate Christmas Gift Baskets

Less Wasteful Packaging for Christmas Hampers

At Hunter Valley Hampers, business owners Kacy Fletcher is crystal clear where her motivation for green-conscious product packaging comes from - reusing! Shortly after specializing the gift baskets and gourmet hamper industry as a ground breaking entrepreneur since 2007, Ms Fletcher knows her work when it comes to delivering a Christmas hamper.

When it comes to packaging and recycling is quite shocking, and the overall state of the industry. In a gourmet hampers Australia first, Kacy explains how the illusion of size and bulk actually works against your value for money proposition. And exactly how some actually simple expert tips and tricks can ensure you get the best pamper hamper or edible arrangements for your dollar this Xmas.

Too frequently gift hampers are developed to appear as bulky as possible basically for visual appeals - with air filled packages and inner containers filling up the vast of the hamper. This brings about an advantageous impression on shipping, when the recipient is certainly surprised with what might appear to be a substantial package sitting on their doorstep.

As the hamper box is opened and the inner packaging and void filler is stripped away, it soon becomes clear that there is just few items of gourmet or Christmas value inside. Unfortunately, this approach simply works because rushed and time poor business buyers simply choose the lowest price and the biggest looking hamper setup. Kacy explains precisely why that will not work and more in this particular insightful interview.

Get Well Soon Gifts

In her time having the picnic gift basket and fruit bouquet business Kacy has seen a few of the worst instances of deceiving customers with huge boxes, loaded with goods like crackers and crisps that are mainly air filled, then saturated in a sea cellulose peanuts. This means when you strip away most of the inner and outer packaging, you end up with a half dozen items on your kitchen space bench top and half a rubbish filled with packaging. Deciding to send a basket should not mean that you are making the choice of more packaging over the right gift hamper.

Thank you gifts and Christmas Hampers for company clients are specifically susceptible to the over packaging complication, as the only people who really see within the hamper are the recipient - typically at a festive, specifically forgiving time of year. The disappointment and head scratching of the recipient is lost in the middle of the noise and excitement of the Christmas Season.

In a recent short article in the South China Morning Post, world famous gift hamper specialists concurred that inefficient internal packaging of hampers is the primary problem. Kacy Fletcher saw this firsthand herself at Australia's home of independent handmade gourmet hampers - Hunter Valley Hamper.com when she had an excess of boxes in a larger size. It was much more price efficient up front to use the large cartons and just revert to even more inner wrapping than to go and source all new closer suitable containers.

Christmas Hampers Australia

Using a bigger than required size package means that freight costs are greater, but with bulk courier discounts, it can nonetheless be better to use the bigger box, pay marginally greater shipping and run out the larger cartons quickly. By doing this the hamper company avoids having to re purchase the smaller box dimension which can be a substantial impost for sending out a fruit basket. Keeping this in mind it simply works to use more inner filler and leave the recipient to have to deal with the excess packaging when the delivery arrives.

"At Hunter Valley Hampers we appreciate the exorbitant wastage that goes with most corporate and business hamper firms," Ms Fletcher states, "We have seen samples where as much as two thirds of the hamper package is loaded with styrofoam blocks - and this is from a big, trusted global firm - it's just not good enough!" Hunter Valley Hampers uses a lightweight but 100 % recycled inner filler, so recipients are not burdened with the problem of disposal of styrofoam blocks.

"One of the worst offenders is those little cellulose peanuts - they just drive me NUTZ when they spill out everywhere all over the place! They might get stuck - so I find myself crawling around on hands and knees picking up cellulose peanuts when in fact I should be relaxing with my gourmet hamper!

It is a real awakening call when rather than sending a many thanks hamper to a valued buddy or client - you are instead sending them the burden of cleaning up and chasing those peanuts around the house when they blow just about anywhere.

Hampers For Men

It is a genuine relief to know you can actually rely on Hunter Valley Hampers for realistic, recycled packing - produced from 100 % workplace paper waste - and also you will be also gifted easy disposal once you open you Christmas Hampers. When you choose other less sensitive suppliers, its a real point of difference and something you won't be blessed with. Choosing Hunter Valley Hampers never felt so good!

And how some really simple insider tips and tricks can ensure you get the best pamper hamper or edible bouquets for your dollar this Christmas.

As the hamper box is opened and the inner packaging and void filler is stripped away, it soon becomes clear that there is just few items of gourmet or Christmas value inside. Choosing to send a basket should not mean that you are making the choice of more packaging over the right gift hamper.

In a recent article in the South China Morning Post, world famous gift hamper specialists agreed that wasteful interior packaging of hampers is the main problem. Kacy Fletcher saw this firsthand herself at Australia's home of independent handmade gourmet hampers - Hunter Valley Hamper.com when she had an excess of boxes in a larger size.

Four Simple Health and Diet Tips

Simple Fresh Local Artisan Gourmet Food

 Four Simple Health and Diet Tips

The latest diet fad and new age trend may spark your interest - but nothing beats simple good health. Looking to the past for inspiration, we are now following the simple diet and meal plans of our grandparents for less complicated and more healthy food options. Finding a fruit basket filled with simple unblemished fruit direct from the markets is the ideal way to keep in touch with natural, wholesome goodness.

Here's some easy to follow tips to keep your diet simple and healthy.

Look back at what your grandparents ate.
Most likely they did not start their meal preparation with jars and cans of sauces and a flavour base as they are now called - but instead real ingredients and simple flavours. Whist there is a place for thick sauces and decadent toppings - there is also a clean simplicity in presenting fresh food without added extras.

Sometimes the food itself doesn't need to be embellished and improved upon - like steamed broccoli is just perfect the way it is - no need for a slathering of butter. In the same way the simple gesture of offering a get well hamper for delivery to John Hunter Hospital can be just the tonic for a battered ego once you are laid up in the ward. No need for fancy balloons or trinkets - just the simple honesty of fresh fruit and a genuine personal message.

Seek out Get Help online

Just a simple Google search can reveal an amazing breadth of helpful forums, blogs and user advice so you cna start moving towards a healthier you. By adopting a whole-life approach to living simple and appreciating things like fresh fruit hampers and living without added sugar, you can certainly begin to feel the benefits within days of cleansing your system.

Simplify Your Entire Existence

In 2014, we have complicated our lives in so many ways it is sometimes difficult to get outside all the noise and pare back life to the bare essentials - like people who matter, doing a job that inspires and motivates you, and finding some sort of inner peace. When you make the change to a simple life, you are embracing the simple food philosophy also, giving the fresh benefits of fruit gift baskets full power to have an impact in your life.

I hope you can take some positives from this article about healthy food and fruit baskets and share what you have learned with family friends and your social networks. As a leading authority trusted by experts in the fields of fruit baskets and gourmet hampers, we wish you the best in making the lifestyle choices that will maximise your own health and multiply your gratitude and gratefulness.

Fruit Baskets with Apples

Australia's Best Apple Fruit Baskets

Fresh Fruit Hamper delivery makes a smiling, stunning impression

Apples are a mainstay of the traditional fruit basket or get well soon hamper and make a bright, crunchy contrast to the other softer fruits.  Apples are absolutely authentic and original when it comes to the fruit world – they do not grow true to seed – which means each and every seed in your apple has a different potential apple variety! 

There have been in excess of 7500 varieties of different apples documented over time and of these, there are still about 150 plus still in commercial production!  That means there are plenty of different tastes, types and textures for you to choose from when you are assembling a fruit gift idea.

There is also the growing movement for apple growers to favour heirloom and ancient apple varieties over the newer variations, so the older classics are constantly evolving for the modern marketplace.  In Australia, commercial constraints like transportability, colour retention and longevity of flavour has strongly influenced the varietals available – which means you are most likely to see these Australian Apples.

Bogle – a miniature Aussie apple with golden red blushed skin – perfect for baking.

Bonza – Crisp eating apple derived from the Jonathan.

Gala – a cross originally from New Zealand, with better tasting strains like imperial, royal and regal making the best for the table.

Golden Delicious – from the US, pale green with golden flecks – ideal for eating and cooking with.

Granny Smith – Originally from a seedling in Sydney, now widespread across the world – a tart green eating apple.

Jonathan – A smallish popular eating apple that is not seen often due to it's poor storage.

Pink Lady – From Western Australia, a cross between the lady William and Delicious apple with good eating flesh.

Red Delicious – the most widely grown dessert apple in the world, with a distinctive crown of ridges around the “freckle” at the base of the core.

Red Fuji – from Japan, the most distinctive feature for this eating apple is the honey core which is a concentration of sugars – highly desirable. 

Sundowner – another WA cross, this apple is a mellow version of the pink lady with simlar long term storage abilities.

Australia boasts the ideal climate to grow apples, with a noted lack of apple pests that plague other continents and an ideal climate to ensure sustained vigorous growth.  We don't have to suffer the scourge of Apple Blight or hard to control pests like apple codling moth. 

It is the buyers perogative to ensure that a diverse range of tasty, appealing apples are brought to market by making strong preferences for these strengths and not buying product that lacks any desirable qualities.  Choosing fresh apples has become very difficult due to the long store time and prevalence of cool rooms for fresh fruit at all major fruit and vegetable markets across Australia.

But in saying that, the long term storage of apples has always been a feature of the fruit – going back centuries earlier people were in need of fresh fruit over the long dark winters.  So it is quite wrong to think that the long storage times of modern fruit are wrong or not expected – it is just part of what has worked for apples and apple growers

I am happy to say that for our Sydney Fruit Baskets we have established trusted relationships with a network of quality assured fruiterers and markets so we can ensure you get the best eating fruit in your gourmet hamper.  After all, when you make the connection with FruitHampers.info you are relying our expertise and professionalism to get the best fruit for your dollar.  And we think that's pretty special...

Mens Gift Ideas Not Expected

Mens Gifts Ideas Off the Mark       

With the best intentions and for all the right reasons, research suggests that when it comes to picking the right gift, men are still not delivering.  According to an article in the Sunday Telegraph, December 29, 2013, Men are “still getting things wrong when attempting to choose the perfect gift for their other half.”

The article notes that a staggering “42% of women return presents from their significant others as soon as they can” – which is quite an indictment on the ability of men to choose meaningful and appropriate gifts for their partners.  As an indicator of what men really think that their partners want, it demonstrates that men are out of touch with their partners and have simply no idea of what is currently in demand.

As a gift hamper and anniversary gift specialist, I appreciate that men do make some brief investigations into finding the ideal gift, but the search is often short and unrewarding simply because there is a dearth of relevant material out there.  In other words, men have a bit of a look around and then give up and resort to the old fall back of perfume, flowers or gift cards.

But it isn’t all bad news – just under half the respondents (45%) of the survey noted that they had to return the items bought for the present due to incorrect size or colour.  This is great news as it supports the idea that although the minor details may be wrong, the general thought and style was nearer to what the recipient expected.

Another big factor in buying a birthday present online is choosing a product that is for the household – like a steam cleaner or vacuum instead of a personal intimate gift for the person.  Men seriously blunder in this area, thinking that a new piece of equipment will be appreciated when in fact it is just that – a new piece of equipment.

When searching online for birthday gifts and presents delivered to work, people in Australia are just coming around to the immediacy and freshness of an artfully arranged fruit basket.  Unlike in the United States, where Fruit Baskets and Fruit Hampers have an established widespread appeal, Australia is an emerging market for designer gift baskets and hampers.  Many men would do well to choose a well thought out fruit hamper as a birthday gift for women instead of wondering which size to buy and whether or not this would offend her.

Next time you are looking online for a women’s gift or present, remember to consider the fresh fruit appeal of a fruit hamper and how sharing dew-fresh fruit direct from the markets in a wicker basket with your personal message (we can even help with writing your message!) is sure to make a smiling impact on delivery.  Oh, and you can be 100% certain that your partner will not be bringing the fruit basket back for an exchange because she did not like it!

Farmgate Hampers Delivered

Everyone likes the idea of strolling through the markets on a Sunday morning - squeezing the fruit on display, asking the farmer how she made her relish, smiling at other like-minded individuals. But for most of us, working a nine to five in the city means we get limited chances to actually get out there and live this dream. So that's where Hunter Valley Hamper comes in and sources the finest quality unique and boutique farm gate produce from around the valley for you to share in a gift hamper.

Whether you don't have the time, or are in another city, away from your friend - sending a hamper to share your feelings is a tried and tested successful method of making something appear in the here and now for your friend as well as your special messages.

Christmas Gifts for the Person Who Has Everything

Every Family has them, everyone knows one, and we all struggle to find just the right Christmas Gift each year - the person who has everything. And be realistic, a gift voucher just isn't good enough when you want to make a personal, thoughtful expression of your feelings. So you scour the malls and browse online, looking for something a little left of centre for your hard to buy for friend. And guess what? Here is my secret tip for the holiday season - stop looking, here is the answer - a gift basket or gourmet hamper!

Let's set the scene - your friend is established, has a well stocked home and all sorts of odds and ends and doesn't really want for anything. And you arrive for your holiday drinks with a handmade gift basket filled with a selection of her favourite foods, pamper items and some cute hobby accessories. The perfect gift with a tantalising immediacy and personalized to suit her exact likes and preferences.

Or, better yet, you have arranged for a gourmet hamper to be delivered to her house in the days before Christmas so she will be able to share the products with her family and guests over the holiday period. And you write a memorable little ditty to accompany the personal greeting card which is enclosed with the gift. Again, it's sharing the perfect gift, with a truly meaningful twist.

Inspiration can come from any of your previous experiences with your friend, like particular tastes and flavours she likes - simply buy a gourmet sampler with these condiments in mind and you will have created a valued, original gift for her without being lazy. And that's what it is all about when you come down to it, we all remember the little gifts that have that extra something that touches our heart. Perhaps not the biggest or the most expensive, but the gift with the most thought.

In my years as a gift professional, I recall several instances where an executive client received a particularly well thought out gourmet hamper designed and packed by our staff with extensive consultation with the people who knew him well. It was a real knockout to hear the amazing feedback once he was presented with the gift. This demonstrates that careful planning, attention to quirky personal details, and trusting the actual hamper build to the professionals can result in a truly awesome impact.

Still not convinced that gourmet hampers or gift baskets are the ideal gift for the person who has everything? What if I told you adding a range of food, condiments and taste products like coffee, chocolate, wine, beer, champagne, and jars will make the gift not just something focused on her experience, but on her next dinner party or family occasion, when she will be able to share the products? That's when the gift becomes something entirely more than just about the recipient, and the focus shifts to sharing, caring ad family. And that, after all, is what Christmas is all about.

Consider sharing a gift hamper with your hard to buy for friends this Christmas and see how well like your choice is. I promise you won't be disappointed.

Picnic For Two Hampers

Here is a great Hamper to share amongst your family and friends.

The Picnic For Two Hamper sure makes a great gift idea and Corporate Thank You.

Baby Gifts for Delivery and Privacy.

It is a thrilling time when someone you are close to has a new baby, and you want to make contact with them, but you are sensitive to the needs of the family for some down time.

Baby Bubbles Hamper $80

Some space and a little time to adjust to the new routine.
Let alone their home has already been visited and re visited and people from all their friendships and families have seen the new parents bleary eyed and in their pyjamas.


A thoughtful baby gift basket is a better way to share in the excitement without getting in the way. You can visit later, when everyone is more settled, but a baby gift basket full of helpful items is the best way to welcome the new family home for the first time.

Call 1300 284 684 to order.

Unique Baby Gifts - Ideas and Inspirations

Birth of a baby always calls for a celebration and hence the family members, close friends and other invitees begin to plan the gifts that they are supposed to present to the babies and their parents. There are many unique baby gift ideas to consider to share your blessings and wishes to the new family.

Historically, people have offered a photo frame as a preferred gift item for adults, in that it was a safe option and there was little to offend the recipient and the frame was easy to transport and deliver. Also, giving baby staples like clothing, accessories and health care consumables like nappies and bottles is not really that inspired and is almost like doing a bit of grocery shoppinf for the new parents.


When giving a blanket or clothing item, ever thought of stitching or printing the messages or blessings that you want to deliver to the newborn baby and make it one of the best among the unique baby gift ideas. This will in turn personalize the whole product thereby making it unique. The clothing things can include bibs, caps, baby shoes, etc.

Safety is another concern - always make sure you gift adheres to Australian Standards and has at least a basic quality control. For a gift idea with quality, handmade local Australian baby accessories, call 1300 284 684.

There are unique baby gift ideas that offer the options for personalized toys. Toys are one of the most demanding items for the babies as they understand how to use toys and play with them more than anything else. These are the items that you can buy even if you have a limited low budget. The photo frame, however, will help you to cherish the memories of your child when he grows up. All his first time activities like first crawl, first walk, etc. can be recorded and put into those frames as mementos. Earlier, you had to wander about the shops in search of the gifts, but now you do not need to do so as the online shopping facilities is a one site solution to your baby gift ideas.

If you still cannot decide, let me suggest a Fresh Fruit Basket or a Gourmet Hamper. Call 1300 284 684 for all your baby Gift Ideas.

Baby Gift Basket Hospital Delivery Newcastle

Delivering a Baby Gift Basket is one of the delights of the business at Hunter Valley Hampers.
Just today the driver commented on how the young couple at Newcastle Private Hospital has been so wide eyed with excitement (or tiredness perhaps?) and that they were almost crying on receiving the Baby Gift Basket.

Tips with Baby Gift Deliveries
Remember, Mum, Dad and Newborn are all at the hospital for a limited period of time and you should place your order knowing that they will still be at the designated hospital. 
Understand that Mum, Dad and New Arrival will all have to leave the hospital on foot, carrying everything with them.  So be wary of over delivering Gifts and unique baby presents.  Someone, probably Dad, is going to have to carry all the baby collection plus your gift out of the hospital and you don't want Dad leaving your gift behind.

Consider a sharing gift for Mum, Visitors and the hospital staff.  A Fruit Basket with Baby Gifts is a great 21st Century Gift Idea, and has the added benefit of being healthy, easy to share and is not a burden to carry out of the hospital.  Hunter Valley Hampers has the best range Fruit Baskets and Fruit Hampers in the region and we won't be beaten on price.

Order Baby Gift Baskets online featuring locally sourced babywear, gourmet food and Hunter Valley Wine.            Call 1300 284 684

Hunter Valley Wine Appreciation Gift Hamper

Hunter Valley Wine Appreciation Hamper
 For a Wine Connoiseur, there is no more popular Gift Basket at Hunter Valley Hampers than the Wine Appreciation Hamper.
Featuring three bottles on Boutique wine from the Sandalyn Wilderness Estate, the hamper is made to compliment a three course home cooked meal.
We have a bottle of wine for each course, sparkling for the hors d'ouvres, the spicy 07 Shiraz for the main, and a syrupy sweet sticky for dessert.
Similiarly, the food and condiments are placed to be included throughout the dining experience.

Order online or call 1300 284 684 to make a Wine Appreciation Hamper suited to yo9ur exact needs.

Suggested serving idea? At your Hunter Valley Bed and Breakfast, overlooking the vines, with the open fire crackling.

Baby Gift Ideas & New Parents Gifts

Shopping for a New Parent of Baby Gift Idea can be challenging. You want to share in the joy of the new arrival, but don't want to send plastic novelties and balloons.

Hunter Valley Hampers have a just released new line of Baby Gift Ideas and New Parent Gifts, ready for fast Australia wide delivery. Simply make your selection and send a unique, quirky gift filled with hand made and locally designed baby items for a gift that is a little creative, and matches your flair for individuality.

It's what we do for Gourmet Hampers Australia.

Send the Taste and Share the Feeling.

Hunter Valley Wine Country Vineyards

Hunter Valley Wine Country has over 120 Vineyards offering many wine varieties, but the Hunter Valley would have to be best known for its' Semillon.
Hunter Valley Hampers offer a range of local boutique wines in addition to the established names synonymous with the Hunter Vineyards.
Hunter Valley Hampers have partnered with Audrey Wilkinson Wines as a preferred winemaker, and we use this wine and it's varieties in most of our Wine Gift Hampers. We are confident you will enjoy Audrey Wilkinson Wines and they will perfectly complement your Hunter Valley Gourmet Hamper.

Websites and Search Engine Optimisation - Huh?

Here we go again, the interview with the website manager and linking our concepts and plans with the realities of web design. And the grim magical reality of search engine optimisation and making a website with page rank and real findability on the net. Keep you posted.