Costco did not eliminate fruit party options entirely; it shifted them across the concrete floor. Instead of placing a 24-hour advance request at the deli glass, members must enter the walk-in produce cooler. There, distributors supply sealed, pre-cut fruit bowls designed to function as an immediate fresh fruit party tray.
These packages vary by region and season. Most warehouses stock a circular 3- to 4-pound clear bowl containing cantaloupe, honeydew, pineapple chunks, and seedless red or green grapes. Unlike the retired catering board platter, these sealed bowls rarely include fruit tray dip inclusions like the classic cream cheese or whipped marshmallow dip. Buyers must purchase fruit dips separately from the refrigerated dairy cases.
Reddit communities dedicated to warehouse savings frequently debate the trade-offs of this layout shift. Members praise the convenience of bypassing the 24-hour pre-order window, but express frustration over the absence of presentation-ready platters with partitioned sections and center dip wells.
