APP Well Bread Baskets

Baskets of snacks with Jersey in mind

Red Bank shop helps Clean Ocean Action Published in the Asbury Park Press 08/18/05 BY ALISON HERGET STAFF WRITER

(STAFF PHOTO: BRADLEY J. PENNER) Patrick and Mary Guba are co-owners of The Well-Bred Basket, 37 E. Front St. in Red Bank.

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Patrick Guba considers himself a lifelong beach-lover.

He grew up near the water in Highlands. He goes fishing often and visits the Surfrider Beach Club in Sea Bright on a nearly daily basis. Now, he has found a new way to support the community of which he so adamantly has been a part.

Guba and his wife, Mary, are co-owners of The Well-Bred Basket, 37 E. Front St. in Red Bank. The store has been selling gourmet food baskets filled with chocolates, fruits, nuts and other goodies for more than 15 years. But now the shop is selling gift baskets with exclusively homegrown flavor, of which 10 percent of proceeds go to Clean Ocean Action, a coalition of 150 businesses and community groups dedicated to cleaning up and protecting local waters.

"I wanted to give something back to the community that would be beneficial to the residents of New Jersey and the environment," he said.

Among the shop's homespun baskets is the New Jersey Snack Stack, a palm basket filled with foods including saltwater taffy from Fralinger's Original Salt Water Taffy in Atlantic City; peanut butter from Freehold-based Old Monmouth Candies, and organic pretzels and caramel popcorn from Happy Herbert's in New York. It also includes hot and spicy snack mix from Monkey Joe's Big Nut Co. in Laurel Springs and Jersey Blues' blueberry iced tea produced in Piscataway. The basket is about $50.

Those looking for a wider array of foods won't be disappointed. The New Jersey Basket, for about $100, features barbecue sauce from Hoboken Eddie's in Hoboken; Bahrs' lobster bisque as served in Bahrs' Restaurant in Highlands; blueberry butter from Muirhead of Ringoes in East Amwell, and sea-salted chips from Dover Township-based International Foodsource, formerly Chile Today.

Both baskets were released at the start of the summer. The line has not yet become profitable for his business, Guba said, but once the baskets begin to sell better, The Well-Bred Basket will make a monthly donation to Clean Ocean Action.

Guba said about two dozen baskets have been sold, and he is sure sales will go up in the fall when people start buying gifts for the holidays.

Jennifer Smiga, director for the Sandy Hook-based Clean Ocean Action, said the organization is extremely appreciative of Guba's support.

Guba, a 35-year-old Middletown resident, said his store sells most frequently to those looking to purchase gifts for a baby shower and for holidays.