Approximately 250 new trees were planted at Albion Orchards on Innis Lake Road this spring by owner Scott Lunau and his employees.

While that may seem like a normal seasonal task for an apple grower, it’s a dramatic turn-around from last year when no trees were planted as Lunau grappled with grief following the drowning death of his wife and business partner Gillian while on a Caribbean holiday in January 2008.

“This place is the only home my children have known,” says Lunau, of his two children, Katy, 8, and Gavin, 5. With their future in mind, he made the decision not to uproot them and carry on with the business he and Gillian spent more than 10 hard years nurturing and developing.

Lunau was a concessionaire salesperson in the mid-1990s when he met his future wife through the matchmaking efforts of his sister who worked with Gillian. Although he didn’t have a farm background, Lunau does have a degree in environmental sciences and almost from the start of the relationship he kept suggesting they purchase an apple orchard.

“I didn’t know anything about apples, but the more I thought about, I thought it would be good career choice because I really wanted to be an apple grower. It was in my blood. We talked a lot about it.”

Eventually they purchased Albion Orchards which had been in existence since the late 1960s. As the orchards had deteriorated somewhat, transforming that second career dream into viable reality proved to be a long and daunting challenge.

“The first year we had no apples – hardly a crop at all. It was the cumulative impact of absentee management. With an apple orchard you can do nothing for one year. But you can’t do anything for two years and you certainly can’t do anything continually.”

To maintain a steady income Gillian kept her regular job until the birth of Katy, while Scott worked full time on the orchard.

The second year’s crop was more encouraging and by reading books, visiting libraries, joining farm associations and attending agriculture information meetings, the couple gradually learned about the science and art of growing apples, as well as how to market them.

As is the case with many of Ontario’s fresh market growers who have difficulty selling their produce to large supermarkets, the Lunaus soon realized they couldn’t just be farmers and would have to diversify through a combination of expanding an existing on-site store, attracting pick-your-own purchasers and organizing school tours. In 2007 approximately 8,000 students, primarily from Toronto schools, visited. “But we never quite went the entertainment theme park route.”

About 25 varieties of apples and five different kinds of pears are now grown at Albion Orchards. They include traditional favourites such as McIntosh, Empire, Spartan, Red and Golden Delicious and Northern Spy and lesser known types such as Honey Crisp, Johnagold, Fuji, and Ginger Gold.

All those efforts, however, almost ground to a halt following his wife’s death.

“For the first couple of months afterwards I kept waking up with a nightmare. But it wasn’t a nightmare. It was for real.”

While a good friend recommended keeping busy, that was easier said than done and Lunau says he descended into a long period of deep despair. “After driving my children to school I would just sit in the house and drink coffee all day.”

If it wasn’t for three close and important people the business might have collapsed. Two of those people are next door neighbors Clark and Andrea Judge who operate a mixed farming operation. During one of those dark days when he sitting alone at home, Clark Judge appeared on his doorstep and told Lunau they were going to prune some trees. “He literally pulled me out of the chair.”

The third person is the orchard’s business manager Betty Armitstead who fills many other roles ranging from planter to the store’s head cashier. “If it wasn’t for Betty, I wouldn’t be here.”

Armistead had worked on a seasonal basis at the orchard for approximately seven years, but had obtained a full-time position elsewhere about the time of Gillian’s death. “I really did need a full time job,” she says.

Concerned about the future of the orchard she convinced Lunau to hire her full time. “Scott I know you lost your wife and I know you can’t do it alone. I love this place, I love work. I love the orchard and I love working here,’ ” Armitstead recalls saying.

Lunau accepted her offer and the two set out to get the business operational.

“Our goal was to get through season and not to lose everything,” he says.

Family members were supportive including daughter Katy, who often takes on a number of duties including installing signs and working in the store on holidays. “I’m the one who looks out for customers. I think our farm has the juiciest apples ever.”