Edible Arrangements offers fruitful gifts

Have your flowers and eat them, too.

The new Edible Arrangements, 21856 Towne Center Drive, Towne Center Plaza, uses fruit as flowers in "floral" arrangements.

"I've wanted one since 2004," said co-owner Brent A. Lowell. "I was an accountant for 32 years and I was looking for something else."

He convinced friend and co-owner Sandra J. Hill to work on the project after getting her a bouquet in Syracuse in February.

"It's one thing health-conscious Americans want today and crave," she said.

The two went to Edible Arrangement headquarters in Wallingford, Conn., and did stints of training at stores in Carmel and Rome. During their time in Rome, they participated in the busiest day of the year for the arrangers — Mother's Day.

But Ms. Hill said any occasion lends itself to a gift of fruit. Customers look for unique things for birthdays, anniversaries, get-well presents and bereavement gifts. The store gets fruits such as honeydew melon, cantaloupe, pineapples, pears, apples and strawberries by the box.

"It's all restaurant-quality fruit," Ms. Hill said. "There are no additives or preservatives. They're cut fresh daily for same-day delivery."

Pineapples are cut into shapes such as hearts, stars or daisies, but also are customized for seasonal and children's bouquets.

There is a wide range of bouquet sizes and prices. Fruit covered in white or semi-sweet chocolate, teddy bears and other items can be added to any of them. All of the bouquets can be customized and there are ready-made ones in a cooler in the front of the store.

For the company's 10th anniversary, 20 chocolate-covered fruit pieces will be added to any bouquet for $20, Ms. Hill said.

They said they chose the Towne Center Plaza location over a few others in Watertown.

"It's our market," Mr. Lowell said of its proximity to Target, Panera Bread and Kohl's.

The bouquet store had its soft opening on Tuesday and is planning a grand opening for the beginning of December. It has eight employees and has hired two more for the holidays, but is looking for more.

"I'm sure we'll be hiring staff from now to the end of February, when things slow down a little," Ms. Hill said.

The store is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays. It will be open until noon on Thanksgiving for pickups and on holidays that fall on Sundays. The phone number is 788-4201.

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Edible Arrangements: www.

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