Is it permissible for Zakat al-Fitr to be a "Ramadan basket," and is it valid to give it out at the beginning of Ramadan or at its end to those who are eligible?

The Zakat al-Fitr can only be given from the staple food of the people of the land, which is what they primarily rely on for their nourishment. A "Ramadan basket" (شنطة رمضان) is acceptable if it contains the staple food of the land and, as a precaution, includes three kilograms of rice, provided that it is ensured to reach a poor Muslim. Some scholars permit giving the equivalent value if it equals the obligatory amount. As for expediting Zakat al-Fitr, it is not permissible before Eid except by one or two days, according to many scholars.