Ode to the Fruit Center

By Betty

I love the Fruit Center, but I didn’t always...When I first moved to Hingham I have to admit the Fruit Center had me flummoxed. I could not figure out how the place was laid out.

Crackers exist in at least three places; croutons are located in three [three, really??]. Pie cherries were not in the canned fruit section; they nestled snugly next to flour, sugar and tapioca. Likewise canned tomatoes were not to be found in the canned vegetable section [or canned fruit to be totally accurate] all things tomato are found in the pasta/imported oil/Pastene area.

I used to curse the place, going round and round the maze of aisles, but it only took a few trips to figure out that the fabulous Fruit Center is organized to inspire and to make sure that you don't forget what you really need.

Yes of course the Cheez-its are in the bread aisle and not the cracker aisle. The cracker aisle is for grown up crackers and Cheez-its are for your child’s lunch.   That is why they're near the "you need these things to create 342 lunches in a school year" aisle, which is right near the deli which conveniently locates meat, cheese, bread and mustard all in the same place and all at eye level.  Never forget a condiment again.

Weekdays at 5pm you’ll find friends walking the aisles looking for inspiration, and The Fruit Center is there to help with a friendly suggestion- fresh mozzarella next to tomatoes and basil [grazie!] Salsa near the margarita mix [oooh, don't mind if I do!] and coffee near fudge sauce and ice cream [a match made in heaven]. The flower section always has a surprise in store and the checkers, baggers, and deli slingers are as nice as New Englanders get.

Now, far from cursing the place, I can't wait to stop in- they are offering many more local delicacies.  I might find field fresh strawberries, or a just-pulled-from-the-ground selection of spring ramps, or sweet, sweet Cape Cod corn.  Sundays at 5:45 are a rush of moms scrambling for the week’s worth of lunches [and for dinner that night in Betty's case...it’s so nice to know you’re not alone in your chaos.]   It's the solid center of my daily universe and I rarely get lost anymore- just don't ask me where the croutons are...