Bouquet of Fruit History and Overview

An Unlikely Start

An Armenia native, Israel Paul and his wife of five children migrated to the great United States to pursue the American dream in 1904. As an unlikely start for the Bouquet of Fruit company, Paul had a shoe repair business in which he both oversaw and worked. With his earnings from his business of shining shoes, Mr. Israel bought a large ranch in Fresno California. Soon after the acquisition of the property, Paul’s family produced nectarines, apricots and grapes on their farm for what would eventually lead to the Bouquet of Fruit Company.

Meet Steve

Israel is the great grandfather to Steve Paul, the current Bouquet of Fruit owner. The family legacy of entrepreneurialism and ability to grow delicious fruits is one that continued strong throughout the generations in the Paul family. Steve and his wife Gina really originated the Bouquet of Fruit name and started selling fruit gift baskets right out of their house via catalogs. This was before the internet era and was the best way to advertise at the time.

Steve and Gina were able to open their first retail Bouquet of Fruit store in Clovis, California. Instead of producing their fruit food gift baskets on their kitchen table, they were able to move into a larger space that would enable more production. In 1988, in addition to their new and only retail location, they opened a gift gourmet store for gourmet gift baskets under the Bouquet of Fruit name. Fresh fruits were the main focus of this new store that is still around today and thriving as always.

Ever Expanding

Yet another location for Bouquet of Fruit was opened in 1994 at the Airport in Fresno. The first website for Bouquet of Fruit was also introduced in the same year. With enticing images and an easily located 800 number, business continued to thrive. With Gina’s background experience in retail management and artistic design, along with Steve’s ability to manage a large operation and his entrepreneurial spirit, the two had struck gold, you might say.

Since then, Bouquet of Fruit has moved into an even larger facility and continues to grow in staff and sales revenue. This ever changing business has been the product of an immigrant who repaired shoes and had a dream. His great grandson and wife have built the Bouquet of Fruit into what it is today and have not forgotten their roots. Quality fruits are still used and innovation drives the Bouquet of Fruit Company to do what they do best.