Farmer's Market

Pretty, tasty

Both are important to a maker of ''edible art.'' Her centerpieces and gift baskets long to be admired, then eaten.

By JANET ZINK
© St. Petersburg Times
published February 21, 2003

BRANDON -- In most circles, it's considered bad form to eat the centerpiece.

If the table adornment is the handiwork of Olga Santamaria, though, even Miss Manners might be tempted to take a bite.

Santamaria, 42, owner of Fruit Baskets to Give, creates what she calls "edible art for all occasions."

Using fruits, vegetables and herbs bought from local growers and the early morning farmer's market on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Santamaria crafts centerpieces and gift baskets meant for munching.

"People like the idea of giving something healthy and different," Santamaria says of her growing business, which she opened in October.

Grapes, cherries, artichokes, mushrooms, lemons, rosemary, alfalfa, lavender and mint. They're all candidates for one of Santamaria's creations.

"If it's going to look pretty and it's tasty, I'll put it in the basket," Santamaria says.

Wooden trays, straw, wood and wire baskets, clay pots and coconut shells imported from the Philippines, Brazil, Colombia and China serve as the foundations for the colorful, nutritious centerpieces and gifts.

A recent masterpiece started with a bright green bed of parsley topped by plump, unblemished strawberries. Another brought together red, yellow and green peppers, broccolini, tomatoes, asparagus, leafy topped carrots and mini bok choy.

Prices range from $20 to more than $100.

Santamaria also uses produce to decorate Christmas trees and the aisles, tables and chairs at wedding ceremonies and receptions. On display in her store is an iron chair trimmed with raffia, kumquats and palm fronds.

Santamaria had a similar business in Colombia. There, she created gift baskets for writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and singers Ricky Martin and Enrique Iglesias.

She moved to Brandon three years ago when she married Guillermo Hernandez, an international salesman for Otis Spunkmeyer, maker of baked goods. Shortly after arriving, she drove by a 1950s house on Parsons Avenue and thought it would be a good spot to re-establish her business.

"It's what I wanted to have, a little country-style house," she says.

-- Janet Zink can be reached at 661-2441 or jzink@sptimes.com .