I hate to say it but most food gift baskets, especially this time of year are outrageously overpriced. I send one of my nephews a 3 flavor popcorn tin thing every year. This year i plan on sending the tin and a popcorn ball decorating kit. It will cost around 80-90 bucks. For popcorn. Just popcorn. Ugh. But he so looks forward to it and is so good about sharing with his little sister, so I keep sending it.

Have you checked amazon? They have a lot of food gift baskets that don't seem too outrageous.

I usually buy a basket and fill it according to the recipient's taste ....could be gourmet, cheeses, baked goods or kitchen items for someone starting out. If you need to mail it, that probably doesn't work.

Make up a gift box of things that you think they will like. Most of those gift baskets are long on basket short on things in it. Since you will be shipping if it must be decorative find a box or series of decorative boxes that will fit inside of a larger one. Put something different in each box. Easier to pack into a larger shipping box and it increases the padding. Please mark the outside box as perishable and to open immediately. Opening a box with something that spoiled is not a way to have a good holiday just because someone insists on waiting until Christmas to open.

I have sent a box filled with foods from our area - think from New Mexico to Alaska, Michigan, Tennessee, etc. It's not a basket, per se, but does have a good variety. It seems to be well-received.

Harry and David. They are known for the pears, but of course have many different choices for many different price points. I have sent and received and you can't go wrong, especially if you know what they like.

Satine, really nothing is worth it when sending on these things! But, people do enjoy them. Here is how I look at gifts. My budget is $50. I spend $50 and don't think about the actual "worth". Done.

A couple more to look at.

New Braunfels Smokehouse: https://www.nbsmokehouse.com/ 

Petit Jean Meats: https://petitjeanmeats.com/shop/home/

I've bought and received both of these. They are both a little pricey, but I like that they are tasty and practical and can be frozen.

Williams-Sonoma. Their Peppermint Bark is wonderful! They have the original as well as dark chocolate, and sea salt, etc. And today is the last day for 20% off and free shipping when you use the code FRIENDS. Plus, they've put gift cards worth up to $1,000 in 1,500 tins of the Peppermint Bark this year, so any gift of it that you give could also net the recipient an extra gift card to Williams-Sonoma.

I agree with Lindsey-CA on William Sonoma

Friend gifts me every year with their hot chocolate, and there are many choices of their hot chocolate. They don't include the marshmallow's, but I bet they are delicious.

This is just one:

I order from Usinger's every year. I usually shop from their free shipping section. All of my recipients have enjoyed them (including my picky grandfather who would tell me if he didn't like it).

https://www.usinger.com/gifts/shop-all-gifts/includes/free-shipping.html

A box of See's chocolates can be sent to them. Watch for $5 shipping special in next two weeks. You pick the delivery date. Above average candy and you can select what you want if you have favorite flavors.

Harry and David gifts are filled with a nice tasting selection.

Harry and David has the world's best chocolate truffles ever made ever. EVER. The dark and milk chocolate ones. Oh man.

emncarspam, my maternal grandparents used to send my parents boxes of usinger sausages every Christmas. It was great fun for us because they used to individually wrap the different sausages in beautiful foil paper which we enjoyed unwrapping.

Costco usually has a ton of gift boxes at different cost levels, tho I haven’t looked this year.

Thanks for all the comments. I agree that these sorts of gifts are overpriced but I am stumped on what to get them. I won't be with them so will have to mail gifts and thought this might be a good alternative. They just moved into a continuing care community and both have some physical issues. Guess Im feeling disappointed that I won't be with them so having trouble finding the right gift. I am sure I'll come up with something. I do like Harry and David and also Wolfingers. Again thank you.

If you decide to make your own, you could do themes based on their interests.

A gardening basket could contain packets of seeds, gardening gloves, hand tools, a pad for kneeling, sun screen, a gift card to a gardening center, etc.

For someone who fishes, things like lures, hooks, fishing line, a fishing hat, sunscreen and sunglasses would be appreciated.

Travelers might like a neck pillow, travel size toiletries, a travel mug, snacks that travel well, a change of socks, wipes, travel planners, etc.

Tea drinkers love different types of teas, a pretty mug, a package of cookies, a tea ball and a tea kettle or a cute tea pot.

You could really have fun with this and send them gifts that are personalized just for them.

Harry and David’s Moose Munch is delicious and makes a nice gift

what about a gift basket place in "their" area......you could call,have the business give you a website to choose from,and pick what you feel would be appreciated...then that business delivers it to them for you....delivery might cost something for sure,but not likely as much as the postal service would.

Also,is there a bus line going from your area to theirs? If so,they might just take a parcel for you as well.

If you choose to do your own,what about a courrier service..there again,it may just be more economical

Start with a flat rate box from USPS and ship your self. Personalize it. So easy and does not matter what it weighs. Just a thought, Good luck.

Mary of Puddin Hill has some really yummy things.

I'm big on giving fringed lap throws right now. :0) A cute candle(apple & cinnamon), hot chocolate in a mug....or soup mug....a good book.

I may have solved my problem. They love panera and I will see if theirs delivers. I can order bagels, scones, coffee cake, flavored cream cheeses and even some soups. I know they will have family visiting over the holidays and they can just freeze what I send them (or part of it) and pull it out when time to serve. What do you think?

I think that is a great idea to order from Panera. Crossing my fingers that they deliver. I really am not a fan of gift baskets. Giving or receiving. They are way over priced for what product you get in a basket. They are mostly packaging and very little product for the price.

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“I may have solved my problem. They love panera and I will see if theirs delivers. I can order bagels, scones, coffee cake, flavored cream cheeses and even some soups. I know they will have family visiting over the holidays and they can just freeze what I send them (or part of it) and pull it out when time to serve. What do you think?”

It sounds like an excellent idea, if you a sure they will be home when it is delivered.

I think a gift card would be better from there instead of you picking the items. I don't like the idea of freezing things.

If Panera's delivers, they can then call and have the fresh food delivered when they do have company.

If they don't deliver, could a staff person pick things up? Will they be able to go there themselves and have lunch or dinner?

I miss Panera's! We had one in the next town over. It wasn't managed right and went of of business ;(

Panera has wonderful sandwiches and can deliver a box of assorted sandwiches. Really great tasting.

We pretty much give checks at Christmas because two of the brood can use the money. I do like to do something personal, too but it is getting more and more difficult. Last year for my son who likes to take good care of his car, I bought a plastic bucket at the dollar store and filled it with all the necessary things for him to detail his car, along with a gift certificate to Home Depot, wrapped it in cellophane and put a big bow on it. For my SIL I got a similar bucket and filled it with his favorite soups, cookies and a batch of pretzel rolls. That being said, if you don't enjoy cooking, I think Panera's is a great idea. Much better than buying an already made up basket filled with a lot of inexpensive stuff for which you pay a premium.

Some of you have had much better luck with Harry and David than I. I've given fruit and candy that was rotten and brown. I've also been given very poor quality fruit and their candy isn't even on my list of "okay".

I throw the catalog in the recycling without opening it.

Wolferman's is great! And everything is wonderful especially their English muffins -- they are like no other! If you like popcorn, Topsy's is spectacular. They have the best cheese popcorn in the whole wide world IMO and they have a cinnamon that I've never tasted anything like it. Their caramel is great as well. You can get a tin of all 3 or a tin of one kind. (I'd chose the cheese :)!

If you're still looking for reasonably priced ideas, The Womens Bean Project is a good one. They have baskets and bundles, or you can buy items separately. The quality is good for the price and better yet, it supports a good cause. If you don't want to send them soup/bread/dessert mixes, there are other items that don't require a lot of time and prep, like coffee beans or popcorn.

Costco has gift baskets.

Rhizo, back in the day, Harry and David did had a glitch for me. Something similar happened and they immediately sent another basket.

Another favorite of mine is Cherchies. They have a wide selection of gift items at every price point. I order the soup mixes for myself to keep on hand.

The Paneras closest to them (about 2 blocks) doesn't deliver but another close one does. My sister hates to food shop, hates to cook and regularly freezes items after shopping so I think freezing won't be an issue. They love Panera and they do go there for a meal fairly often. I also like Wolfermans and will check the other sites mentioned.

My sister still drives (her hubby has had a couple of strokes and open heart surgery) but it is difficult for her hubby to actually go to a restaurant. They often go to the "main campus" of their community and have a meal at one of the restaurants there. They are in a new single family home which is about 1/2 mile from the main campus. Once the weather is bad they probably will opt for meal delivery. Thanks for all the ideas.