One hundred and three years ago, Archer Davis planted a peach tree seed in Mount Sinai and became the first peach farmer on Long Island. At a time when potatoes, cauliflower, and tomatoes were proven cash crops, moving away from that concept presented a clear risk but not enough to sway the man from his dream.
“Every one was doing the same thing,” said Christine Davis, co-owner of Davis Peach Farm on Hulse Landing Road in Wading River. “He wanted to be a little different. He was an adventurer.”
Archer had high hopes for his business. Unfortunately, he didn’t live to see it succeed. He died in 1948.
“He died a very, very poor man and in debt,” Christine said. “But he did plant the idea.”
It was an idea that his son, David, worked day and night to make right. While still in high school, he managed, along with the help of his mother, to repay some of his father’s debt by producing and selling peaches. He has been farming full-time since 1950.
“My husband and his mother were living on a $1,000 per year,” Christine said. “They were eating garbage. They couldn’t even heat their house. But luckily, after a few years, the creditors decided to release them from the debt.”
David planted more peach trees, and other fruit-bearing trees on the Mount Sinai farm and the business slowly grew. In 1988, the Davises sold the Mount Sinai farm and that fall, David bought 64 acres in Wading River — a former potato farm. The following spring, David began planting trees — peach, nectarine, plum, apple, apricot and cherry trees. He harvested his first crop in 1990. He started the “pick your own” business in 1992.
Today, David is 80 years old. Christine handles the business end of the farm and he continues to take care of the crops.
Davis Peach Farm today grows 80 varieties of peaches, 50 varieties of plums, 30 varieties of nectarines, sweet cherries, sour cherries, apricots, pears and apples on its 64-acre farm. They also grow
Although “you-pick” stations are available throughout the season, crops ready to pick change from week to week, so Christine asks that customers call ahead to find out what’s available for picking.
Their produce is also available for sale at their farm stand.
Phone number: 631-509-5033
Website: www.DavisPeachFarm.com
RiverheadLOCAL photos by Michael Hejmej
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