When you're a family on the go, like ours, finding healthy snack alternatives can sometimes be quite the challenge.  For instance, my daughter loves cubed cheese and yogurt, but these snacks require refrigeration and just can't stand up to the hot Texas sun while traveling in our car.

Fresh fruit doesn't travel very well either, which got me to thinking about other healthy snack alternatives for my family.  That's when I discovered the organic dried fruit selections from Bella Viva Orchards.  They allowed me to review their Organic Gift Crate, which contained a myriad of tasty snacks.  Keep reading to learn more!

I was so excited to sink my teeth into the organic fruit selections included in the Organic Gift Crate from Bella Viva Orchards, especially once I found out a little more about the orchards themselves.  Bella Viva Orchards produces and sells exceptional fresh and dried fruit, nuts and chocolate to loyal customers at their stands in northern California's celebrated farmer's markets, in select restaurants and to their online customers across the country.

Quality is of the utmost importance at Bella Viva Orchards. Growing the fruit that they dry and market enables them to have complete control over the fruit quality, from the initial growing phase on through the final packaging and delivery.

As soon as the Organic Gift Crate was delivered, every included element oozed quality and deliciousness.  Here's what was included:

• Contains 8 different bags of organic fruits & nuts (5.5 lbs)
• 4 oz Organic Dried Orange Slices
• 8 oz Organic White Nectarines
• 8 oz Organic Pears
• 8 oz Organic Yellow Peaches
• 16oz Organic Bing Cherries
• 16oz Organic Thompson Raisins
• 16oz Organic Almonds
• 12oz Organic Walnuts
• Hand crafted peach-wood crate from our orchards

I was thrilled at the large portion sizes of the dried fruit and nuts included as well as how the crate itself was constructed of wood straight from the Bella Viva Orchards themselves.  I've eaten dried fruit in the past, but honestly never thought much of it because it tasted like flavorless rubber.  Even though it travels well and can be taken and eaten just about anywhere, I didn't like the flavor of what I was eating.

My opinion quickly changed though as soon as I put some of the organic dried fruit from Bella Viva Orchards in my mouth.  There was just so much flavor in this dried fruit!  I almost say that it tasted juicy, though of course there aren't any juices in dried fruit.  My favorite selections were the Bing cherries, the raisins and the peaches.  To me, they tasted a lot like Fruit Roll-Ups, which all kids seem to love, but of course, these are the real thing and don't come with all of the processed ingredients, added sugars and dyes that quickly make them junk food.

Riley and Michael gave these dried fruits their seal of approval too!  Michael was especially taken by the almonds and walnuts included in the Organic Gift Crate and kept munching on them throughout the week.  I noticed later that these two bags of nuts were stuffed in his lunch sack to take with him to work the next day.  I haven't seem them since!  Riley's a lot like me and now she eats a healthy portion of dried raisins and Bing cherries most everyday.  They are great to toss into my purse for snacking on the run and can be eaten and enjoyed almost anywhere!

If you are searching for a healthy, tasty and highly portable snack for your family this summer or for the upcoming back-to-school season, then I would highly suggest any of the delectable products from Bella Viva Orchards.  You can purchase their organic dried fruit separately or in an attractive gift basket arrangement, making it the perfect gift for that special someone.  Sample the savory selections of California with Bella Viva Orchards!

Disclosure:  I received the Organic Gift Crate from Bella Viva Orchards in order to facilitate my review. No other compensation was received. This product review is based on my own personal experiences with this item and is completely honest and objective.