We grow over 20 different kinds of peaches and nectarines. We planted the first 333 trees in 1989 and have been adding to the orchard ever since.
Paradise Orchards (see location on map) is run by my wife Nancy and myself(Levin VanSant). The children help, the only outside help we use is a crew of about 14 workers to "thin" the trees each spring. Basically that means going over all 2000 trees and pulling off peaches so there's only one peach every 7-8 inches over the whole tree. This ensures that the fruit left on the trees get more nutrients and ripen to a good size.
Our orchard is about ten acres in size. It's small enough that the family can give personal attention to the trees. We hand pick every peach at the height of ripeness. Our peaches are irrigated all summer, so they're bigger, sweeter, and juicer than anything you can buy in a market.
The best indicator that a peach is ripe is the ground or background color. It should be yellowish or creamy in color. The blush or reddish color has to do with the variety of the peach and not its ripeness. A green ground color suggests that the peach was picked immature and it will not ripen. A ripe fruit will smell like a peach. Our peaches are all tree-ripened and hand-picked LARGE fruit. Normally, it takes about three to four medium peaches to weigh a pound; our LARGE, juicy peaches weigh almost a pound each!
Come visit our stand on Route 13 south of the Felton, DE traffic light between July 1 and September 10th each summer.
From: Leslie (last name omitted for privacy)
To: peachesandpups@aol.com
Sent: 7/31/2011
Subj: Peaches
You have the most delicious peaches I've ever tasted and look forward to coming home from our vacation in OBX (I live in NJ), just so we can once again have the beast peaches ever !!!!!
Do you ship your peaches? I know they are delicate, but I thought I'd ask.
Thank you for these great peaches and look forward to your answer.
Sent from my iPad
Subject: Thanks
From: Maggie
Date:Wed, 17 Aug 2005
To: peachesandpups@aol.com
My husband and I stopped at your produce stand Monday evening and were so delighted with your peaches. You were also kind enough to give us an extra bag because you said we were the last customers of the day. Actually, we believe it was because you and your wife are extremely kind people!
When we returned to the Holiday Inn in Harrington, we gave a peach to the lady at the front desk, and she mentioned that she and her family always buy their peaches from you because they are the best around. When we sampled them for our supper, we found out she was right. Thanks so much for caring about the quality of your fruit.
Best regards,
Maggie and Gene (last name omitted for privacy)
From: Mary Lou
To: peachesandpups
Sent: 7/9/2008
Subj: FRUIT
Thank you so much - haven't had peaches this good since my
dad had his orchard in Maryland back in the '40's + '50's.
Thank you and please take care of your trees so future generations may have the same pleasure from the fruit.
Mary Lou
My Great Aunt, Miss Myrtle Clifton, was 109 on November 19th. She was born in Greenwood, DE and worked as an accountant in Philadelphia until she was 78 years old and currently lives in Stonegate in Greenville, DE. She is a graduate of the Wharton School (Evening classes). She still does her own book and taxes each year.
Myrtle had a wonderful 109th birthday and loves to get cards. She's received 170 so far!
See a video of Miss Myrtle Clifton on ABC on her birthday, November 19, 2011 at the age of 109 years.
See another video of Miss Myrtle Clifton who still likes to tell dirty jokes at 109.
Our peach stand is open on Route 13 south of the Felton, DE traffic light between July 1 and September 10th each summer.
The peach crop this year looks great. We also have started growing strawberries (hydroponic). These berries will be available by the end of June until October. We'll be posting more about our strawberries.
 Click to see a larger picture | Cynthia and Harvey Allison made this handsome gift by hand for the Van Sant family. Cynthia did the drawing and Harvey made this wall hanging out of iron with only two welds to add the peaches. The Allison's email is Cfallison@aol.com |