Since 1934, Harry & David has grown to become Americaâs premier choice for gourmet gifts. From our handpicked fresh fruit to our hand-packed gift baskets filled with delicious treats, we are committed to providing premium quality and excellence in every way.
A history rich in agriculture and family values, our story started with Samuel Rosenberg, a successful hotel owner in Seattle, Washington. In 1910, Samuel traded his prized Hotel Sorrento for 240 prime acres of pears in Southern Oregonâs Rogue River Valley. The soon-to-be-named Bear Creek Orchards were later taken over by his two sons, Harry and David Rosenberg.
Educated in agriculture at Cornell University, the brothers put their training to work. They decided early on to specialize in the Comice pear, with high expectations of its success in the export market to grand hotels and restaurants of Europe. The Rogue Valley exceeded their expectations, proving even better suited to the Comice pear than its birthplace in France.
Harry & David named their luxurious pears âRoyal Riviera,â setting them apart from varieties grown elsewhere, and throughout the Roaring Twenties, the fame of Royal Riviera® Pears spread as their business boomed.
Following the Great Depression, the brothersâ affluent market began to diminish. While there was no question that the Royal Riviera® Pears were unsurpassed in quality, their concern became finding new buyers. Always innovating, the brothers devised the idea of selling their pears by mail.
In 1934, Harry & David set on their famous sales trips to San Francisco and New York, visiting the captains of industry and pitching their pears as the ideal business gift. It wasnât long before the orders were rolling in. It was the beginning of Harry & David as the company grew to become Americaâs first choice for fruit and food gifts.
Today, the company continues to grow and plan for the future, developing new ways to capitalize on the Harry & David brands. Today, we are proud to be one of the nationâs earliest catalog mail order companies, earning our reputation for unmatched quality and customer service.
Innovation and bold marketing defined the companys early periods of growth. In 1936, Harry & David came up with the idea of the Fruit-of-the-Month Club, which allows customers to automatically send or receive fruit gifts throughout the year. The Tower of Treats, introduced in 1945, provides holiday cheer to thousands of American families. These and other Harry & David innovations have been widely imitated.
The brothers chose to specialize in Comice pears, the intensely sweet and juicy pears originally from the south of France and highly coveted in upscale European markets. Though they required very specific growing conditions and were hard to produce in abundance, the Rogue Valley proved ideal, and the special variety that the brothers cultivated was even more delicious, and hardier, than its French counterpart. To set their remarkable pears apart from all others, Harry & David branded their luxurious pears âRoyal Riviera.â
To this day, we still hand pick all of our fruit at peak ripeness, craft our own baked goods and confections, pack our gifts by hand, and ship everything to arrive in perfect condition, ready to share and enjoy.
By 1934, with Royal Rivera® Pears gaining worldwide popularity, Harry & David began creating gourmet gifts featuring their pears. Building on their initial success, they came up with gift baskets, Fruit-of-the-Month Club® Collections, and enticing gift towers, including the Signature Holiday Tower of Treatssup® Gift, still our most popular gift. The brothers paid scrupulous attention to every detail, and quality was their number one goal.
Two other venerable brands complete the Harry & David portfolio. Wolfermanâs Bakery has been synonymous with fine baking since 1888, and is most known for their incredible English muffins. Weâve expanded their offerings to include breads, pastries, cakes, and other delicious treats along with breakfast and brunch items, pantry essentials, and even complete meals. Stock Yards has delivered âthe Worldâs Finest Steaks and Chopsâ to restaurants for more than 120 years, and it is our pleasure to offer them directly to customers throughout the country. With Prime and Choice selections, our Stock Yards® steaks and chops are hand-carved and expertly aged for the best possible flavor and tenderness.
In 2014, Harry & David became part of the 1-800-FLOWERS.COM, Inc. Family of Brands. With over forty years of innovation and excellence, family-run 1-800-Flowers.com has grown to include some of the best-known gifting and gourmet food brands in the business while maintaining its original mission and founding principle: to make people smile.
Innovation and bold marketing defined the companys early periods of growth. In 1936, Harry & David came up with the idea of the Fruit-of-the-Month Club, which allows customers to automatically send or receive fruit gifts throughout the year. The Tower of Treats, introduced in 1945, provides holiday cheer to thousands of American families. These and other Harry & David innovations have been widely imitated.
Following the Great Depression, the brothersâ affluent market began to diminish. While there was no question that the Royal Riviera® Pears were unsurpassed in quality, their concern became finding new buyers. Always innovating, the brothers devised the idea of selling their pears by mail.
Today, the company continues to grow and plan for the future, developing new ways to capitalize on the Harry & David brands. Today, we are proud to be one of the nationâs earliest catalog mail order companies, earning our reputation for unmatched quality and customer service.
Since 1934, Harry & David has grown to become Americaâs premier choice for gourmet gifts. From our handpicked fresh fruit to our hand-packed gift baskets filled with delicious treats, we are committed to providing premium quality and excellence in every way.
Educated in agriculture at Cornell University, the brothers put their training to work. They decided early on to specialize in the Comice pear, with high expectations of its success in the export market to grand hotels and restaurants of Europe. The Rogue Valley exceeded their expectations, proving even better suited to the Comice pear than its birthplace in France.
Harry & David Fruit Basket Unboxing | Gift Basket Delivery
FAQ
Does Harry and David own the fruit Company?
What are the sister brands of Harry and David?
Where does Harry and David get their fruit?
Where are Harry & David products sold?
The company sells its products through direct mail, online, corporate gifting, and in their flagship location in Medford, Oregon, and operates the brands Harry & David, Wolferman’s, and Vital Choice. Harry & David was founded in 1910 by Samuel Rosenberg as Bear Creek Orchards in Medford, Oregon, as a premium fruit company.
Is Harry & David a good fruit club?
Harry & David has quite a few fruit clubs to offer, from memberships that deliver just pears to assortments that provide extra treats like cookies and chocolate. This brand has a reputation for being a go-to when you need to send a thoughtful gift, and their pricing is about average.
Who owns Harry & David?
In June 2004, approximately 97% ownership of Harry & David was acquired by two investment firms in the United States: Wasserstein & Co. of New York, which purchased 63% of the company’s stock; and Highfields Capital Management of Boston, which acquired 34%.
Where is Harry & David headquartered?
Harry & David is headquartered in Medford, Oregon, where as of 2015 the company is the Rogue Valley ‘s largest non-medical employer. As of 2007, the company operated 2,000 acres of orchards, manufacturing facilities and a distribution center in Medford.