Valentine's Day a big business boost for local chocolatier

GREENACRES, Fla. - Mary Saviano's practiced hands have been working at Hoffman's for 17 years. 

"I make all kinds of clusters, peanuts, raisins, cashews, pecans," she said.

The self-described "cluster lady" halts progress on her typical treat for strawberries.  The staff works 24 hours a day for three days before Valentine's Day to meet demands.  The locally-grown berries are washed, stemmed and hand-dipped in milk and dark chocolate.

President and CEO Fred Meltzer said, "The day of Valentine's Day, we sell thousands and thousands of pounds of our delicious chocolate-covered strawberries."

"They are delicious, that I have to say," said Saviano, as she weighed chocolate-covered strawberries into one-pound boxes for the holiday.

"You have all the health benefits of chocolate, on top of all the health benefits of fruit," Meltzer said.

Chocolate is overwhelmingly the candy of choice on Valentine's Day.  Saviano has a simple answer to why.

"People are happier with chocolate, I seem to think so, I mean, when you mention chocolate to somebody, they smile," she said.