Lori Beasley takes a day off from her full-time job to allow herself enough time to make orders. She uses the time to prepare dozens of hand-dipped, chocolate-covered strawberries for customers of her home bakery, Busy Bee Bakery in Fort McCoy, Florida.
Like Beasley, small dessert business owners across north-central Florida have found themselves busy in the days leading up to Saturday. For these home bakers, Valentine’s Day isn’t just a holiday. It’s one of the most important days of the year for their businesses.
Instead of relaxing with loved ones, they will spend their Valentine’s Day putting final touches on their strawberries and driving their packed cars around Alachua and Marion counties to deliver them…