Two major fruit basket companies impart awareness pertaining to critical causes during the month of March. Edible Arrangements observes the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s MS Awareness Month. While Harry & David recognized International Women’s Day on March 8, 2013. Taking distinctive approaches to create awareness, these major fruit basket companies portray their leadership in supporting the cause.

Edible Arrangements
The Edible Arrangement’s franchised stores in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and New Hampshire are donating $5 from the sales of its Orange Blossom® collection during the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s MS Awareness Month. In 2011, Edible Arrangements raised $10,000 for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.

What are the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis (MS)? Note that Multiple Sclerosis affects patients differently. However, some of the most common medical events associated with MS include numbness in the face arms, lower extremities, fatigue, vision problems, dizziness and difficulty balancing when walking and other episodes. Please visit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) at http://www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis/what-we-know-about-ms/symptoms/index.aspx to learn more about MS.

About the Orange Blossom
Edible Arrangements designated the Orange Blossom® fresh fruit basket as the fundraising product to match the official color of the MS Society, which is orange.

The contents of the Orange Blossom fresh fruit basket collection include juicy strawberries,cantaloupe, thick orange wedges, honeydew and grapes.  The arrangement also includes chocolate dipped strawberries, and banana bites dipped in white and semisweet chocolate.

Note that the fruit basket can be delivered on any date in 2013.

On Twitter, the hash tag for the National MS society #NationalMSAwareness #doFrui should bring up any news or tweets about the fruit basket company’s National MS Awareness initiative.

Harry & David

The International Women’s Day site says this about the event: “International Women’s Day (8 March) is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. In some places like China, Russia, Vietnam and Bulgaria, International Women’s Day is a national holiday.” And further explains, “Suffragettes campaigned for women’s right to vote. The word ‘Suffragette’ is derived from the word “suffrage” meaning the right to vote. International Women’s Day honours the work of the Suffragettes, celebrates women’s success, and reminds of inequities still to be redressed.”

By International Women’s Day 2013 accounts, there were 1466 events worldwide commemorating the day. Among the companies and events that recognized International Women’s Day, Harry & David, the fruit basket company, recognized the day by reaching out to its 309K friends on Facebook.

The company hosted a quasi social event on its Facebook page and posted the question, “Who inspires you?”  Harry and David received hundreds of responses, including the names of matriarchs such as Laura Bush, Hillary Clinton, Michelle Obama, Gabby Gifford, Maya Angelou, Mother Teresa and Tina Fey just to name a few of the most notables.