Kingsville family business getting through the hard times

By Mark Ribble

KINGSVILLE — The Rondelez family is trying their best to take the COVID-19 pandemic as just another challenge.

While their furniture and flooring retail stores are closed to the public, they do have their winery, Black Bear Farms, open with a curbside pickup program.

The Rondelez have a long history of business in Kingsville and Leamington.

Jerome and John Rondelez came from Belgium in the mid-1950s and they started in business together with their father Maurice, in 1962. They had retail stores in Kingsville and Leamington and were early players in the colour TV market in this area. They’ve been through recessions and other challenges along the way and have always managed to persevere.

Main West Furniture in Leamington and Kingsville have become mainstays for the family’s business ventures over the years.

But their labour of love is the family farm, which they purchased in 1988. Soon after, Black Bear Farms was born which eventually produced a bevy of award-winning fruit wines.

Bill Rondelez runs the farm and winery with help from his sister Michelle, while Jerome Jr. manages the flooring store in Kingsville. Michelle and Jerome Sr. normally handle the retail store in Leamington.

The Rondelez family’s foray into farming was due to their love for what their late mother Madeline called ‘gardening’.

Madeline sadly passed away on April 7 and the resilience of the family is once again being tested.

“She was our rock”, said Michelle. “Everyone - even the workers, referred to her as Mama.”

The winery was closed for a month as the COVID-19 crisis hit about the same time as Madeline was in her last days, so they felt it best to close until they were able to get through their grieving. The winery re-opened recently with curbside only service.

“We want to be sure that everyone is safe”, said Bill. “Our dad is 80 and we have other family members with compromised immune systems.”

Once they are given the all-clear, they may even wait a week or so, just to make sure all is good.

“We want to proceed with caution”, said Michelle.

As for Jerome Sr., he is trying to keep busy at the farm, helping out where he can.

“Dad is doing okay, but he misses mom,” Michelle says.

Black Bear Farms grows several types of fruit to make their fruit wines. Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries and black currant abound in the back fields. They are also growing gooseberries, elderberries and Saskatoon berries. This year, they are trying their hands at growing aronia (black choke cherry) and haskaps, which are considered to be one of the super fruits.

“We’re going to give them a try,” said Bill.

During the crisis, the family is keeping busy trying to ready the farm for the growing season. They expect to have strawberries mid-June, followed by raspberries and the others in July.

They sell some of their fruit at their outdoor fruit stand as well.

Bill and Michelle Rondelez at Black Bear Farms in Kingsville. Sun photo

It’s a three-generation farming family, living and working together to get through anything sent their way.

Although the tourism-heavy wine industry relies on people doing tours and tastings, they are hoping that their award winning fruit wines speak for themselves.

Last year, they had nine award winners at the annual Finger Lakes Wine & Spirits Competition and four more won awards at the annual All Canadian Wine Championships.

“We’ve submitted 12 wines to the Finger Lakes this year,” said Bill.

They have two workers from Mexico who have been with them for almost 20 years. Together with family members, they will get the work done this spring and hope for a great harvest.

When asked what the future holds for Black Bear Farms, Michelle Rondelez was quick to respond.

“As farmers, we’ve had to deal with all sorts of obstacles from storms to frost to other weather incidents”, she said. “We’ve learned to prepare and overcome.”

Black Bear Farms is located on county Rd. 20 just west of Kingsville and they are currently open for curbside service from 12-5 every day.