OUR FAMILY HISTORY

It was in 1901, on the steps of Rougemont’s church, that our great-grandfather, Mr. Jean Baptiste Jodoin, acquired his first orchard. Located on the Chemin de la Petite Caroline in Rougemont, this 35 acre orchard became the family’s place of establishment and was used, at that time, to provide for the family’s needs.

A few years later, it was Ernest Jodoin, Jean Baptiste Jodoin’s son’s turn to officially take over and settle on the Petite Caroline’s orchard, accompanied with his wife, Mme. Alice Brin. Together, they raised a family of seven sons and six daughters. Every child contributed, at one time or another, to maintain and improve the land. The harvested apples were then mainly sold in public markets.

In 1953, one of Ernest’s sons, Paul Jodoin, settled onto land in St-Damase with his wife, Mme. Monique Lavoie. Very involved in the orchard’s progression, they built their first controlled atmosphere warehouse, “an innovation at that time”, to improve the preservation of fresh apples. They then began to commercialize their fruit, selling directly to grocery stores. By the time of their retirement, they had become major players in the sale of fresh apples.

In 1987, Monique and Paul’s three sons, Pierre, Sylvain, and François Jodoin, carried the torch of the family business, establishing the fourth generation to continue harvesting and selling fresh apples. In 1993, building off their parents’ momentum, the Jodoin brothers began the production of fresh and authentic apple juice, under the brand Tradition–success was instant! Encouraged by feedback from their clients, many other flavours were created and commercialised.

Today, Vergers Jodoin has secured a significant place in the fresh juice and apple market in Quebec. To the initial 35 acres of orchard on the Petite Caroline were added many other orchards in the region, and the apple production now spans about 600 acres of land. The three brothers still actively work in the business and are working towards establishing the fifth generation.

“We are very optimistic in regards to the integration of the fifth generation. They will surely bring new ideas, but they will still keep our fundamental values.”