Fabiola Baulenzula, a family owner of FruitBox, and Adela Cortez another member of the family opened at 4570 River Road N. last week.
FruitBox Snack Bar has rolled into Keizer. The brick and mortar store, located on Lancaster Drive, has expanded to using a food truck once again. They have taken up residence on River Road alongside Uncle Troy’s BBQ and Thai Food Express, completing Keizer’s very own food pod.
FruitBox is a family run business that started with Fabiola Baulenzula and her brother when they were in college. Disappointed by the lack of year-round fruit offerings in the area, they hatched the idea for fruit truck.
“Being able to provide something the entire year gives people options,” Baulenzula said.
They started out with a truck before opening a store. They are bringing the trailer back into use as a way to expand their business.
“The idea was to start of with a smaller trailer, almost a shaved ice trailer, and then it became a brick and mortar store,” Baulenzula said.
The truck offers everything from fruit salads to fresh squeezed juices to ceviche, which they’ve received high praise for. One of their most popular offerings is the strawberries and cream fruit salad, which is made with a homemade cream.
“At our actual location we sell a lot of tortas, it’s like a Mexican sandwich, but here we’re selling a lot of mangoniada. Mostly the mango ones,” Baulenzula said. Mangoniada is likened to a spicy mango slushy.
FruitBox Snack Bar rounds out the offerings of the food pod, name coming soon, with a lighter alternative to a full meal. There is limited seating due to COVID-19 restrictions but more tables will be added when it is safe and legal to do so.
“I just want to invite anyone to come and try a fresh fruit salad or smoothie or one of our refreshing mangoniadas,” Baulenzula said.