The history of Halls

In 1947, Melville Hall, his wife Emily, and their 19-year-old son Christopher Kyle Hall I moved from Montreal, Quebec, to establish a 120-acre farm in Brockville, Ontario. They initially raised horses, cows, pigs, and vegetables, but Kyle’s ambition soon led to a new focus. He built the area’s first controlled atmosphere storage room and transitioned the farm to specialize in apples. Under his leadership, the business grew steadily, eventually supplying apples to Dominion Stores across a 250-mile radius, including what would later become Loblaws. Kyle’s decision to rebrand the business from M. Hall & Son to Halls Apple Orchard laid the foundation for the farm we know and love today.

In 1996, Kyle passed the reins to his son, Christopher Kyle Hall II, who steered the business in a new direction. Moving away from large-scale packing and wholesale supply, Chris focused on direct-to-consumer sales. This pivot led to the launch of Hall’s presence at local farmers markets in 2007. Chris and his wife Kim also expanded the retail store, introducing “pick your own” apples and a wide selection of farm-fresh products.

The Hall family story continued to evolve, with Chris and Kim raising their four children while running the 80-acre farm and market. Their children were raised in the family business, working on the farm and lending a hand at farmers markets.

In July 2024, the farm transitioned to new co-ownership under long-time employee Matthew Shapton and Chris’s eldest son, Christopher Kyle Hall III. Matt began his journey with Halls at the age of 13 through Maze Quest, and Kyle III marking the Hall family’s fourth generation in the business. Together, Matt and Kyle are expanding the operation, exploring new opportunities, and ensuring that the legacy of Halls continues to grow and thrive.