Joy shows up in many forms, but one of my favorites is the opportunity to contribute food to a gathering that celebrates someone special. That was certainly the case when our dear friend Dewey passed away just shy of his 96th birthday, a little more than a year ago.
Dewey lived a long, productive and fascinating life. He was warm and witty, wise and generous with his stories, the kind of person you wanted to sit beside at a gathering because you knew the conversation would be memorable.
His wife Charlotte, daughter Katherine and her family are very dear to us at Glover Gardens. Katherine and her husband, my good friend John, are my son’s godparents, and growing up he affectionately called Dewey and Charlotte his god-grandparents. That tells you everything you need to know about how close our families are.
When Dewey’s Celebration of Life was planned after his death, I asked Charlotte if I could help and we decided on a fruit platter. I was honored to be involved.
A Thread That Started with My Mom
This fruit board is actually part of a longer story here at Glover Gardens.
Years ago, Charlotte asked me for advice about making an antipasto platter for a gathering. That question turned into a blog post where I shared entertaining wisdom from my mom and her beautiful antipasto platters from our childhood kitchen on the Texas coast.
Charlotte took that advice and ran with it, creating gorgeous platters of her own. Check out this lovely and diverse crudite and relish tray she brought to one of my special birthday parties.
Later, when Dewey turned 95, she asked if I would bring a vegetable grazing board to his birthday celebration, which became another post here on the blog.
So when Dewey’s Celebration of Life came around about a year later, my assignment was fruit.
It felt like a natural continuation of the story — Mom’s entertaining wisdom traveling through the years and showing up again on a platter made for someone we loved.
The Philosophy: Abundance
Instead of neat rows or carefully stacked fruit, I followed the same philosophy my mom used when assembling her antipasto platters:
- Group ingredients by type.
- Distribute the colors.
- Mix textures.
- And above all, create a sense of plenty and hospitality.
A grazing board should feel welcoming and generous, not precious or fussy.
I started with leafy greens to line the platter, then placed a few anchor bowls around the board — one with chocolate-covered almonds, one with banana chips, and one with a creamy fruit dip made from Greek yogurt, local honey and a little nutmeg.
Then I built outward, layering fruit in colorful clusters and tucking sweet surprises throughout the board.
A jar of bamboo fruit skewers served as both decoration and practicality, giving guests an easy way to spear their favorite bites.
By the time it was finished, the board looked exactly the way I hoped it would — colorful, welcoming and abundant.
The kind of platter that invites people to gather around, share stories and remember someone special.
And that felt like the perfect tribute to Dewey.
Fruit Grazing Board Playbook
Ingredients
Fresh Fruit
- 2 cups strawberries, halved
- 2 cups pineapple chunks
- 2 cups cantaloupe cubes
- 3 apples, sliced into wedges
- 2 cups red grapes
- 1½ cups blueberries
- 1 cup raspberries
- 1½ cups blackberries
- 3 kiwis, peeled and chopped
- 4 mandarin oranges (whole)
Dried Fruit & Sweet Treats
- 1 cup dried apricots
- 1 cup banana chips
- ¾ cup coconut-coated mini Medjool dates
Nuts and Chocolate
- 1½ cups mixed roasted nuts (cashews, almonds, pecans)
- 1 cup dark chocolate-covered almonds
Honeyed Greek Yogurt Fruit Dip
- 1½ cups Greek yogurt
- 3–4 tbsp local honey
- ¼ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
Garnish & Serving Elements
- Leaf lettuce to line the platter
- Fresh mint leaves
- Bamboo cocktail picks or fruit skewers
- Small bowls for nuts, dip and treats
How to Build a Fruit Grazing Board
- Start with a large platter.
A board about 19 × 25 inches works beautifully. - Line the platter with greens.
Leaf lettuce provides color and keeps fruit from sliding. - Place anchor bowls first.
Use bowls for dip, nuts or treats and space them around the board. - Arrange fruit in clusters.
Group fruit by type rather than lining it up in rows. - Balance the colors.
Spread reds, blues, greens and yellows around the platter. - Add sweet surprises.
Scatter dried fruit, chocolate or nuts throughout the board. - Fill the gaps.
Use grapes, mint leaves or small treats to fill empty spaces. - Add serving picks.
Fruit skewers or cocktail picks make it easy for guests to help themselves.
Best Choices for a Grazing Board
The best fruit boards include a mix of colors, textures and flavors.
Juicy favorites
- strawberries
- grapes
- blueberries
- raspberries
- pineapple
- cantaloupe
Crisp fruits
- apples
- pears
Tropical accents
- kiwi
- mango
- mandarins
Sweet extras
- dried apricots
- dates
- banana chips
- chocolate-covered nuts
Crunchy additions
- roasted nuts
- candied nuts
Adding a creamy dip like honeyed Greek yogurt brings everything together beautifully.
Frequently Asked Questions About Fruit Grazing Boards
What fruits are best for a grazing board?
Strawberries, grapes, pineapple, berries, apples, kiwi and melon are all excellent choices.
How far in advance can you prepare a fruit board?
You can assemble it about 1–2 hours ahead and keep it chilled until serving.
What dip goes well with fruit?
Greek yogurt with honey and nutmeg is simple and delicious.
What else can you add to a fruit board?
Nuts, dried fruit, chocolate-covered almonds and coconut-coated dates add texture and variety.
How do you keep fruit fresh on a platter?
Slice fruits like apples or pears shortly before serving, or toss them lightly with lemon juice to prevent browning. Keep the platter chilled until guests arrive if possible.
How much fruit do you need for a fruit platter?
For a grazing-style fruit platter, plan on about 1 to 1½ cups of fruit per person if it is part of a larger spread. If fruit is the main snack or dessert, allow closer to 2 cups per person.
Don’t Overthink It
A grazing board should look abundant and inviting, not overly precise. Perfect symmetry can actually make guests hesitant to disturb it.
Can I mess it up?
No, you can’t! Just follow your heart and these high-level instructions, and don’t get too fussy about it. Color, texture and diversity will make your platter perfect — and perfectly unique.
Shared Food and Memories Connect Us
Food has always been my way of honoring people I care about, and this fruit board felt like the right tribute for Dewey and support for his lovely widow Charlotte — colorful, generous and meant to be shared.
And as I stood back and looked at the finished platter at the Celebration of Life, I couldn’t help but think of my mom’s antipasto baskets from years ago. Her philosophy of abundance had made its way through the years — to Charlotte, to Dewey’s celebrations, and now to this board — reminding me once again that food is one of the loveliest ways we carry people forward.
And that’s why I write about it and share recipes here.
Rest in peace, Dewey. You are missed.
©️ 2026, Glover Gardens
