Melton’s Orange Barn
Beth Melton spends a breezy afternoon in late January inside her bright orange fruit stand along Commercial Way, just south of Spring Hill Drive. She’s been busy, she said, selling the last of her supply of juicy sweet Honey Bells, a deep hued member of the orange family.
Honey Bells are a cross of Duncan grapefruit and Dancy tangerines,” she explained. “They are a bit juicier than the Naval varieties and get their name from their angular bell shape.” The rind is thick, a little difficult to peel. But the sweeter, juicier fruit inside is a big hit with her customers.
Honey Bells, however, are seasonal, like most citrus fruits she and her husband, Joe, grow and harvest on their 80 acre farm in eastern Hernando County. They are only available in January, which is why her supply would soon be a memory.
In a few days, in fact, Melton would be focusing on a different type, Honey Tangerines, a pattern that would continue until around the end of April. But the groves are maintained year round.
Melton’s Orange Barn, which officially opened just prior to Christmas, is a new venture by the Meltons who started selling their fruit at the Hernando County Market last year. “We did so well but could only sell on Saturdays,” Melton said.
Joe Melton has been farming his entire life, born and raised in Brooksville. The Meltons have owned their 80-acre citrus grove for more than 18 years, selling mainly to wholesale packing houses.
Branching into the Farmer’s Market launched the idea to open a store where they could also stock fun gifts and locally crafted items.
They stumbled on the former car wash and envisioned turning it into a little fruit shop, kind of like a roadside store where locals could feel a little like tourists. They renovated it, added large industrial doors and filled it with fresh, juicy oranges, grapefruits, kumquats, fresh jams and jellies, candies, and little trinkets of all different varieties.
And Melton’s Orange Barn has quickly become a popular stop for locals and travelers alike.
“Excellent product, it’s always fresh,” said Larry Frederick, account manager for American Hospitals Publishing Group Int., who was on a business trip from Kentucky. The company publishes patient information booklets for Brooksville and Spring Hill Regional Hospitals and Oak Hill Hospital, Frederick said.
Frederick had been staying at the Hampton Inn for a few weeks on business and had become a regular visitor to Melton’s Orange Barn.
“I love these Honey Bells,” he said. “I frequently take some back to show my appreciation to the Housekeeping, just to make the girls feel appreciated.”
Frederick purchased three Honey Bells and a generous few handfuls of the kumquats that Melton had cooling in the refrigerator. He admitted Melton’s Orange Barn had become his favorite little stop and one he would continue to visit on future trips to Spring Hill.
“We actually have what is known as a fresh fruit grove, meaning we grow 10 different varieties of fruit,” Melton said. Their “season” runs from November until about the middle of April. “We have different varieties during that time so we can always offer what is the freshest and always tree ripened.”
The different varieties begin with the red and yellow navels, Robinson tangerines, the popular Honey Bells, Honey Tangerines, white and pink grapefruit and a variety of juice oranges from the Valencia family. Examples include Blood Oranges that get their name from the deep red color of their juice, and Robles that offer a milder, smoother juice.
“These are the varieties that we grow on our farm,” Melton said. And there is always a fresh type available until about the end of April.
Yet Melton’s Orange Barn is as a much great community stop for good conversation. Customers are drawn to the bright orange building and the idea of fresh Florida citrus. Conversation just naturally just follows.
Indeed the atmosphere provides a nice little spot for casual conversation. Although in the thick of busy activity along U.S. 19 and located in one of Hernando County’s most traveled retail hubs, Melton’s Orange Barn is like a comfortable little refuge.
It provides a nice tourist stop for visitors to the county, with some novelty, touristy-type items, while also acting as a great reminder to residents of the value of our naturally grown, Florida resources.
Ray and Janet Turner of Spring Hill spotted the store from the highway and came in looking for jarred honey.
“He pointed out that there were oranges over here,” Janet said, chuckling. “I told him, ‘because there are oranges in Florida.'”
Janet browsed the different jars of locally crafted honey while Jay scanned the shelves, each pausing to sample a couple of wedges of Yellow Navels and Honey Bells.
The Turners had moved into Windward Village from Zephyrhills last September. They came to Hernando County, Ray said, to be closer to their grown daughter. Ray had recently undergone heart surgery and was told his time was very limited.
“The day we moved here I had a heart attack,” he said. He was treated at Oakhill Hospital where they discovered a poorly placed stint.
Ray is a miracle whose enthusiasm for life is impossible to miss. “We love it here,” he said.
The couple walked out with a combination of Honey Bells for Ray and the White Navels for Janet and a few jars of honey. And they promised they would return.
“That’s what happens when customers come in,” Melton said. “They’ll sample and buy fruit and we’ll just start talking about things.” And friendships are formed.
Name: Melton’s Orange Barn
Location: 1286 Commercial Way, Spring Hill 34606
Telephone: 352-232-2667
Website: MeltonFamilyGrove.com
Kim Dame is a correspondent for Hernando Today. She can be reached at [email protected].
