On February 16, 1998, we made our first deliveries of mixed fruit boxes to companies in San Francisco’s Embarcadero Center from Chris Mittelstaedt & Pia Hinckle’s one-bedroom apartment in the North Beach neighborhood.
We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs through the decades (can you say Dot Com crash? Financial meltdown? Global pandemic?). We are still here, still family-owned, and now a women-owned and led proud B Corporation. We are so grateful to our present and past employees, clients, farm partners, vendors, and community partners for getting us here. Thank you all!!
How did it all start?
Hear The FruitGuys story straight from the OG Chief Banana, founder Chris Mittelstaedt
(circa 2014)
FruitGuys History Gallery
25 Years of Innovations & Awards
National Fruit at Work Day
The FruitGuys started National Fruit at Work Day, celebrated the first Tuesday of October, to promote the health and productivity benefits of consuming whole fresh fruit during the workday.
The FruitGuys was recognized by Inc. magazine for its efforts to fight food insecurity in the U.S..
25 Years of Impact
Since 1998, The FruitGuys has been on a mission to support small farms and combat hunger. Purchasing from The FruitGuys helps sustain the small independent farmers we source from, helps feed people and heal the planet.
We support this mission by donating a minimum value of 20% of our annual profits.
- 18 million+ servings of fruit, veggies & snacks donated
- 123 grants to small farms in 30+ states
Our 5Rs Promise
Your happiness and satisfaction is our top priority. If you’re ever not satisfied with what you have received, we will replace or credit you for those items. This goal of pleasing you is more than just a policy, it’s a five-step philosophy of customer care that we’ve built our business on and that guides our actions everyday.
- We’ll be Respectful of you at all times.
- We’ll be Responsive to your needs.
- We’ll be Realistic with you about what we can or cannot do.
- We’ll take personal Responsibility to provide a positive experience.
- We’ll work hard so that you’ll Remember us positively.
The FruitGuys 5Rs © Chris Mittelstaedt, 1999
The FruitGuys Magazine
Cheers to 27 Years of Corporate Fruit Delivery
This week marks twenty-seven years since The FruitGuys—and the concept of corporate fruit delivery—was born. The story goes that my brother, Chris, and his wife,
15 Reasons Office Fruit Delivery Is a Win for Employees and HR
Back in the early ‘90s, there was no such thing as office fruit delivery. Most workers powered up with a steady stream of vending machine
The Best Assortment of Fruits for Heart Health
A vibrant, varied diet is a cornerstone of cardiovascular health, and fruits play a starring role. Packed with essential vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber, these
Small Farm Grants Made Big Impacts on These 20 Farms
Many small-scale farmers want to rebuild their soil, support their local pollinators, or share more environmental education with their communities—but a lack of funding holds
Employee Recognition vs. Appreciation: Why They Matter and How to Take Action
I started to understand employee recognition vs. appreciation when I landed my first “real” office job in my early 20s. It came with a cubicle
Want to Celebrate Black History Month? Start By Sharing Stories
My parents are originally from Louisiana, and when they came to visit this past weekend they shared a photograph they’d found among my grandparents’ belongings.
