Delicious Orchards
Encyclopedia
Delicious Orchards is a farm
and country food market located in Colts Neck, New Jersey
.
located on a farm road (present day County Route 537
), connecting Colts Neck with Freehold
. The Barclay family, of Cranberry
, bought the orchard in 1922, having three generations of the family run the farm. The orchard eventually grew to 110 acres throughout the years. In the 1950s, Carroll W. Barclay, the son of the original owners, took over the operation of the farm. He altered the concept of the business from being strictly wholesale
to a combination of retail
. In 1959, Barclay hauled several wagonloads of apple
s to the roadside and set up a makeshift stand. This concept was a success, and in 1960, a 1,200 square foot stand was built, which led to modern day Delicious Orchards. Product lines were expanded to include fresh apple cider
and his wife Janet's apple pie
. Several varieties of apples were grown and hand-picked for the best flavor at their peak season. In the 1960s, the Barclay's transitioned to a year-round business with the addition of more produce
and baked goods. In 1966, the Barclay's bought a red brick building on Route 34 at the current location of Delicious Orchards. Having the business indoors created some additions to the product line, including citrus fruits and cheese
s.
The farm is located on Route 34 (a major state road connecting Wall Township
to Matawan
) in the township of Colts Neck, a rural suburb in Monmouth County, New Jersey
. Most visitors come from the Monmouth County area, as well as those from New York City
and the Jersey Shore
.
has visited Delicious Orchards, which whom he favors the farm's homemade apple pies.
Farm
A farm is an area of land, or, for aquaculture, lake, river or sea, including various structures, devoted primarily to the practice of producing and managing food , fibres and, increasingly, fuel. It is the basic production facility in food production. Farms may be owned and operated by a single...
and country food market located in Colts Neck, New Jersey
Colts Neck Township, New Jersey
Colts Neck is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 10,142.What is now Colts Neck Township was established by an act of the New Jersey Legislature as Atlantic Township on February 18, 1847, from portions of Freehold...
.
History
Delicious Orchards began in 1911 as a small orchardOrchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
located on a farm road (present day County Route 537
County Route 537 (New Jersey)
County Route 537, abbreviated CR 537, is a county highway in the U.S. state of New Jersey. The highway extends from Delaware Avenue in Camden to Myrtle Avenue in Long Branch.-Camden County:...
), connecting Colts Neck with Freehold
Freehold Borough, New Jersey
Freehold is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 12,052. It is the county seat of Monmouth County....
. The Barclay family, of Cranberry
Cranbury Township, New Jersey
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there were 3,227 people, 1,091 households, and 877 families residing in the township. The population density was 240.6 people per square mile . There were 1,121 housing units at an average density of 83.6 per square mile...
, bought the orchard in 1922, having three generations of the family run the farm. The orchard eventually grew to 110 acres throughout the years. In the 1950s, Carroll W. Barclay, the son of the original owners, took over the operation of the farm. He altered the concept of the business from being strictly wholesale
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
to a combination of retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
. In 1959, Barclay hauled several wagonloads of apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s to the roadside and set up a makeshift stand. This concept was a success, and in 1960, a 1,200 square foot stand was built, which led to modern day Delicious Orchards. Product lines were expanded to include fresh apple cider
Apple cider
Apple cider is the name used in the United States and parts of Canada for an unfiltered, unsweetened, non-alcoholic beverage made from apples...
and his wife Janet's apple pie
Apple pie
An apple pie is a fruit pie in which the principal filling ingredient is apples. It is sometimes served with whipped cream or ice cream on top...
. Several varieties of apples were grown and hand-picked for the best flavor at their peak season. In the 1960s, the Barclay's transitioned to a year-round business with the addition of more produce
Produce
Produce is a generalized term for a group of farm-produced goods and, not limited to fruits and vegetables . More specifically, the term "produce" often implies that the products are fresh and generally in the same state as where they were harvested. In supermarkets the term is also used to refer...
and baked goods. In 1966, the Barclay's bought a red brick building on Route 34 at the current location of Delicious Orchards. Having the business indoors created some additions to the product line, including citrus fruits and cheese
Cheese
Cheese is a generic term for a diverse group of milk-based food products. Cheese is produced throughout the world in wide-ranging flavors, textures, and forms....
s.
The farm today
Over 2.5 million people visit Delicious Orchards annually. As of 2011, the farm has 250 employees, with 300 employed during the fall. Patrons have a variety of fresh foods from several departments of Delicious Orchards. These include produce, deli, bakery, coffee and tea, seafood, smoothie/juice bar, prepared foods, organic foods, and candy.The farm is located on Route 34 (a major state road connecting Wall Township
Wall Township, New Jersey
Wall Township is a township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 26,164.Wall Township was formally incorporated as a township by an act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 7, 1851...
to Matawan
Matawan, New Jersey
Matawan is a borough in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 8,810. The name "Matawan" comes from a Native American Lenape word....
) in the township of Colts Neck, a rural suburb in Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County, New Jersey
Monmouth County is a county located in the U.S. state of New Jersey, within the New York metropolitan area. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 630,380, up from 615,301 at the 2000 census. Its county seat is Freehold Borough. The most populous municipality is Middletown Township with...
. Most visitors come from the Monmouth County area, as well as those from New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and the Jersey Shore
Jersey Shore
The Jersey Shore is a term used to refer to both the Atlantic coast of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the adjacent resort and residential communities. . The New Jersey State Department of Tourism considers the Shore Region, Greater Atlantic City, and the Southern Shore to be distinct, each having...
.
Trivia
Rock musician and Monmouth County native Bruce SpringsteenBruce Springsteen
Bruce Frederick Joseph Springsteen , nicknamed "The Boss," is an American singer-songwriter who records and tours with the E Street Band...
has visited Delicious Orchards, which whom he favors the farm's homemade apple pies.