Ruma’s Fruit & Gift Basket World

Ruma’s Fruit & Gift Basket World is an Everett business that puts together fruit and gift baskets, the latest chapter of a family produce business that dates back more than a century. The basket side began in 1986, when principal owner Jim filled a buyer’s request for fruit baskets to send to customers as holiday gifts; the recipients were so pleased that he expanded into both fruit and gift baskets. The company names superior product quality and customer satisfaction as its two core values.

The story starts in 1900 with Giacomo Ruma, a Sicilian immigrant who sold fruit and vegetables from his own pushcart in Haymarket Square on Blackstone Street. He arrived at 3 a.m. to buy each day’s inventory, sold green beans, tomatoes, apples, oranges and potatoes alongside fish vendors, and spent evenings cleaning produce and repairing his cart. Fair prices and a wide variety of produce earned him loyal customers in the neighborhood.

What to Know

• The business is now run by the fourth generation of the Ruma family.
• Before focusing on baskets, the company operated as Ruma Fruit & Produce.
• It is a member of the Everett Chamber of Commerce.