Davis Peach Farm Opening Saturday in Port Jefferson Station

For Christine Davis, her family's 229 years of history in farming has come down to one crucial season.

The owner of Davis Peach Farm said her orchard in Wading River was nearly destroyed by the last two hurricanes, and said she is counting on her new venture – a farm stand in Port Jefferson Station that will open Saturday – to revive a business she feared might not have been viable much longer.

"We were actually getting ready to put the orchard up for sale when I saw the farm stand up for rent," Davis said. "I thought, 'We’ll try it and it might be a way to save the orchard.'"

Davis previously tried partnering with a farm stand in Setauket, which she said did not work out, and partnered with Ging's Nursery in Miller Place as a temporary outlet for her baked goods this past fall.

The present farm stand at the corner of Old Town Road and Boyle Road was once known as Timberline Farm Stand and before that as Scappy's, and in fact that family still owns the property. Davis said she was on her way to a family celebration when she saw it was available to rent.

"I used to wholesale to them years ago, so I thought it was a good match," she said. "Plus, driving to Wading River is a trek. If they only have to go to Port Jefferson Station, it would be easier for the customer. Gas is expensive."

Davis said the farm stand will offer not just the signature Davis Peach Farm pies, sangria mix and fresh peaches, plums, nectarines, figs, apples and berries, but will also offer produce such as lettuce, broccoli, spinach, zucchini and asparagus – and whatever else her customers request.

"We can bring in basically what the customers want. In the past it could only be what we grew or what we grew on Long Island," she said, referring to the Suffolk County farmland preservation rules. "This property does not have that restriction."

Davis, who lives with her kids and husband on the family's longtime homestead in Mt. Sinai, said she will be adding freshly baked bread to the lineup of baked goods and will be adding flowers for sale as well.

While there are other farm stands not too far away, such as in Smithtown and Setauket, Davis said competition is healthy for businesses.

"I think once people realize that it’s the only location where they can get Davis Peach Farm products, we’ll be good," she said. "And if I don’t have something and I can’t get it, I’ll send [customers] to the place where they can get it. To me that’s common sense and good business."

A good season this year will go a long way for Davis, who had to take out a Farm Service Agency loan from the U.S. Department of Agriculture in order to make it work.

"I’m just excited," she said. "I have a good feeling about this location."