Food for Thought

A new report from Gourmet Gift Baskets surveyed 1,139 U.S. mourners, asking each to rate 14 condolence messages based on the loss that affected them most. The simple message "I'm so sorry for your loss. I'm thinking of you" ranked first at 85%, while explanatory phrases like "Everything happens for a reason" (24%) and "You need to move on" (14%) ranked last. The analysis supports a "presence without pressure" model: acknowledge the death, require no reply, offer specific help, and follow up later. It also finds generational and gender divides, with younger adults favoring no-obligation messages and men far more accepting of "stay strong" platitudes than women.

A new report from Gourmet Gift Baskets surveyed 1,139 U.S. mourners and compared people whose most affecting loss was a pet with those grieving a person. The analysis finds that pet loss receives measurably less support: more than one in four pet mourners received no support of any kind, and food support showed a 25-point gap. Yet pet mourners were more likely than anyone to want the death acknowledged, and their window for welcoming a check-in closes sooner, a median of 21 days versus 30.5. The report includes the highest-rated condolence messages for pet loss and guidance on personalizing AI-assisted sympathy messages.

A new report from Gourmet Gift Baskets combines Census birthplace data from 2010–2024, complete 2023 state-to-state migration flows, and MovingPlace activity from the first half of 2026 to map where Americans have roots and where they move. The share of U.S. residents living in their state or jurisdiction of birth fell from 59.1% in 2010 to 56.8% in 2024. Across all 2,652 state and jurisdiction routes, established state networks had a 0.89 correlation with new moves in 2023. The report’s Mover Attraction Score ranks South Carolina first, while Florida recorded the highest 2026 moving activity.

A companion paper to the Gourmet Gift Baskets moving report examines what state-to-state migration data leaves out: how far Americans actually live from family. While 43% of U.S. residents live outside their birth state, the typical adult lives about 18 miles from their mother, and 74.8% of adults with a living parent or adult child have one within 30 miles. Pew Research Center found 55% of adults live within an hour's drive of at least some extended family, though that share falls from 63% among adults with a high school education or less to 42% among those with postgraduate degrees. In the 2020 AARP and National Alliance for Caregiving survey, 76% of people caring for an adult age 50 or older lived in the same household or within 20 minutes of their care recipient.

Grief touches nearly every American, yet most feel unprepared to offer support when someone dies. This roundup of 68 sympathy and grief statistics from sources including the CDC, Judi’s House, New York Life, CANA, Empathy.com, and the Greeting Card Association shows how frequently people experience bereavement, how it affects children, widows, workers, and pet owners, and how condolence messaging, funerals, cremation, hospice care, and sympathy gifting fit into a fast-growing “grief economy.” It highlights the gap between how often people grieve and how rarely they feel truly supported, underscoring the importance of thoughtful sympathy messages, cards, and gifts.

Trudy and David founded Chalifour's Flowers with a vision to create a cherished neighborhood flower shop, blending David's creativity with Trudy's operational expertise. Their dedication to beautiful flowers and exceptional service helped the business thrive, and their hard work and resilience laid a strong foundation for a family business that continues to flourish today.

A new report from Gourmet Gift Baskets explores the evolution of sympathy messages over 2,000 years, revealing a shift from prescriptive advice to simply offering presence. Grief researchers and card publishers now prefer messages focused on presence and memory, with the twelve-word phrase, "Holding you close in my thoughts and wishing you peace and healing," accounting for nearly 40% of all sympathy choices.

A report from Gourmet Gift Baskets highlights major shifts in America's fruit consumption over the past fifty years, based on USDA data. Fresh fruit intake has risen over 40% to 133 pounds per person, while canned fruit has dropped by more than 50% and dried fruit by over 30%. Fruits like mangoes, avocados, limes, and grapes have become staples, with availability increasing significantly. In contrast, grapefruit and oranges have seen sharp declines. Currently, imports account for nearly 60% of fresh fruit consumed in the U.S., up from 50% in 2007, posing risks due to drought and extreme heat.

A new report from Gourmet Baskets explores how dads’ priorities are shifting, revealing trends such as a growing preference for trusted brands, dining out, and products that make daily life easier. It also shows increased participation in loyalty programs and rising interest in AI. While preferences vary across generations—gaming is more popular among Gen Z dads—the data also highlights what is actually bought for Father’s Day, including meat, baked goods, and beer. Dive into the full article to discover more about these evolving trends.

A research report from Gourmet Gift Baskets on how three converging weather events — drought covering 60% of the country, a winter of historic freezes, and a potentially record-breaking El Niño — are reshaping fruit supply in 2026. Covers the outlook for apples, pears, oranges, and berries, with data from USDA, NOAA, and major industry associations.