Tom Chudleigh’s father, grandfather and great grandfather grew apples in ‘Dixie’ (between Dixie and Tomken Rd., just west of Toronto, in Mississauga, north of Dundas St.).
In 1939, Tom’s father, Eric, was the first grower in Canada to import dwarf rootstock from England.
Thomas L. Kennedy, Tom’s grandfather, was Ontario’s Agriculture Minister for most of his 40 years as Peel County’s elected representative.
Tom married Carol Brown in 1962, and they moved to the Milton Farm.
Our longest working employee, Rosa Kowal, retired in 1998, after working continuously for Chudleigh’s since before pick-your-own began in 1967, originally working in our fruit tree nursery.
Bill and Doreen Brown, Carol’s Mom and Dad, supported the harvest for 25 years (Bill demonstrated the best method for picking apples while Doreen always worked behind the scenes). The last of our 60 acres of orchard was planted in 1972.
First apple pie made in 1973.
The Niagara Escarpment Commission (N.E.C.) was formed in 1985 to conserve the Niagara Escarmpment and the surrounding area from over development and destruction.
A fire destroyed our Barn, containing the Retail Shoppe, Bakery, Cider Press and the Play Barn on February 13, 1990 started in an animal pen (in a remote building). No one was hurt.
