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Farmstand at Beebe Farms closes By Buffy Pollock Jun 11, 2022 10:01 AM A A Drought, smoke and labor issues spell end of popular Central Point farmstand Octavio Poscidonio picks peaches at Beebe Farms in Central Point. After four years of working the historical farm, he announced this week that its farmstand would close. [File photo / Denise Baratta] Four growing seasons after he revived farming operations at the locally beloved Beebe Farms in Central Point, New York native Octavio Poscidonio is throwing in the towel. Poscidonio announced this week on social media that he would cease operations at Beebe Farms farmstand, established across the street from the farm, and send refunds to subscribers of his monthly CSA produce boxes. Poscidonio leased the land from the Picollo and Gealon families four years ago, shortly after the long-running farmstand had been shuttered. Beebe Farms came to be when A.W. and Mary Skipton Beebe came to the Rogue Valley in the late-1880s from Nebraska. At one point, the Beebe family farmed some 80 acres of alfalfa, corn, wheat and pears along with milk cows. When Poscidonio took over the farm operations, he said the community’s nostalgia for the farm was a big draw. Poscidonio, who made his way to Oregon for the cannabis industry before meeting the owners of Oregon Bee Store and collaborating with owner Mike Curtis, converted all the old trees to organic farming methods and quickly garnered a following for his organic produce and, followers said this week, his kind nature. His announcement this week was painful for Poscidonio, who declined to comment further, and for supporters, dozens of whom responded with well wishes and gratitude for four seasons of organic fruits and vegetables. Poscidonio remained optimistic for much of his first three years on the farm, but he grappled last fall with the ongoing drought, and labor shortages forced his hand with a shortened CSA (community supported agriculture) season and an offer of discounted CSA boxes in trade for volunteer labor. “All good things must come to an end. Unfortunately that time has come for Beebe's Farmstand,” Poscidonio announced. “The age of our orchard combined with late frosts and bad weather during pollination led to projected yields that are really low. Taking this, as well as rising costs for labor and fuel, into account have led me to close the farmstand.” With promise of refunds this week, Poscidonio thanked his CSA subscribers for “the faith you put into me and the farm” and said he wished he could have gone another year. “I'd like to thank all those who supported us over the past four years — it really has meant a lot, and we were able to get a whole lot more peaches, fruit and veggies out into the community because of it,” he said. Local customers wished Poscidonio well and said they hoped he’d keep them apprised of his next farming venture. Cheryl Chatburn-Ross, who drove from Klamath Falls every year to purchase peaches, said, “They were the most delicious peaches I ever found. They will be missed.” Tammy Wallace of Central Point said closure of the farmstand would leave a void for her family. “I would take my girls to get their pumpkins at the farm every year, and they were never harsh; they always treated the kids as if they were their own, letting them pick up any pumpkin they could — climb on them if they were toddlers,” Wallace said. Ava Jones of White City, who said she happened onto Poscidonio after Seven Oaks Farm closed last year, said she was saddened to see another opportunity to buy local go by the wayside. “Octavio was just one of the nicest people, and it’s so important to be able to buy local and know that our food was literally grown not far from where we’re buying it,” she said. “I grew up getting them from the Beebe family, so to have them available at Beebe Farms again was really wonderful.” Elena Gealon, whose family purchased the farm from descendant Ken Beebe and allowed him to live on the land until his death in 2003, said she was saddened to see so many obstacles stacked against local farmers. “Octavio was starting to get a good following, and things were coming along OK. It’s a hard business to be in, and to find anyone willing to work and help is really difficult on top of the drought and everything else,” she said Gealon said the family would take some time to think about what would happen with the farm, likely “taking out some older trees and cleaning things up for now. Octavio put in a lot of work, and I know it’s really sad for him and for the community,” she added. To be apprised of Poscidonio’s future farming ventures, send an email to [email protected]. Reach freelance writer Buffy Pollock at [email protected].