Residents of Monmouth County between 105 and 114 on the Garden State Parkway know how fortunate they are to be within easy driving distance of "Delicious Orchards" located on Route 34 in Colts Neck south of Route 520 (if you are driving from the north) or north of Route 18 (if you are driving from the south).  I lived in that area for 40 years before moving to southern Ocean County to a new over 55 "adult" community.  But we still drive back frequency to visit friends and do real estate business.

Yesterday our business trip took us to Rumson, Keansburg and Aberdeen. After we left the Strathmore section of Aberdeen, it was time for you know what!  - a necessary winter break with a trip to Delicious  Orchards. There is a sense of nosalgia of times past and places visited as Susan and I drove south past the many Casola farm market properties. Roberts Road on the left lead to Holmdel park and to the old Bell Labs.

A few minutes after crossing Route 34 we saw the big horse farms and remembered the scenic drives off the main road - so we turned left and explored the country side around the Holmdel- Colt's Neck border. This is simply beautiful country with large tracks of land with horse farms and majestic estates. Is it any wonder that Donald Trump bough a multi-million dollor golf course in the area.  We continued on past Becker True Value Hardware store and soon we turned right and parked in the Delicious Orchards parking lot.

It was 1 pm and time for lunch before shopping for groceries. An enclosed outdoor canteen was waiting us. We got in the short line and made the tough decision -  a hot dog, a tuna salad sandwich and a cup of potato soup. Then we sat down and were joined by tiny birds on the floor near our feet, on the chair seat, and one actually sat on the back of a chair and started at my sandwich. I looked at the sign in the window "please do not feed the birds and imagined the birds might edit the sign to say "please leave some crumbs because you don't need it all"

Then it was time for the big event - the tour inside.  I speak of Delicious Orchards affectionally as the museum of modern art for fruit and vegetables.  Color, form and presentation catch your attention in a museum of modern art - but you cannot touch them. But Delicious Orchards makes a high art in their presentation of nature's etible fruit and vegetable wonders, plus bake goods.

Our first stop was the apple ciders donuts stragetically displayed just as you enter the store. They are simply luscious. You can't buy just one package. We selected one cinnamon and one sugar coated. Within reach was the Irish Soda Bread. Again, we needed two - can't have too many of these treats. Then we paused at the cheese section where one can sample many varieties, along with accompanying crackers and breads. Want some meats to go with? Well, there are all types of smoked sausages just waiting to be tasted and added to the cart. In addition, if you want to be especially decadent, visit the prepared foods section where salads and main dishes are available to tempt one's eyes and get the gastric juices flowing. Forward to the heart of the store to the astounding fruit and vegetable section and you have entered a Garden of Eden of all types of produce from all over the world.  This is why Delicious Orchards appeals to the diverse cultural community.

The smell of wonderful coffees brewing is a draw, especially on a cold day. Located near the candy counters brimming with mouth-watering chocolates, only those of great willpower can resist the temptation not to add some of these treats to the cart.

Finally, on the way to the checkout, the fresh bakery section beckons as does the eye-popping cut flower display.

All in all, our visit was a feast for the eyes and the palate and is definitely worth the trip from our home in Little Egg Harbor. So, if you are enticed, we wish you happy shopping on your next visit to Monmouth County.