The Tomori brothers began making maple syrup as a hobby in their childhood and expanded it into a professional business, establishing themselves as the second largest producer in Ontario. Pepper law Creek Farms, a 250,000-square-foot farm located in Zephyr, Ontario, about 80 kilometers northeast of Toronto, is run by brothers John, Ben, Tony, and Eugene Tomori. They all earned bachelor’s degrees from the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Applied Sciences and Engineering, and John and twins Ben and Tony additionally earned master’s degrees in engineering.
The family purchased the farm in 2015 as an investment, according to Ben Tomori, who loves nature and was looking for a property with pleasant woodland. The family needed maple trees, and Ben decided to use his six weeks of vacation to start a maple syrup business. As a result, Peppero Creek Farms ranked second in maple syrup production in Ontario in Canada. This is the result of utilizing the family’s engineering expertise in chemical, mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering. “We currently have the largest evaporator in Ontario, and reverse osmosis technology is widely used in the maple syrup industry,” Ben said.
Major buildings constructed early in the 2020 pandemic have concrete floors, large wooden structures, and extensive electrical wiring and piping to transport liquids. As the building’s project manager, Ben explained, “This building is a science of architecture itself.” The farm is a popular attraction during maple syrup season, and the number of visitors increases significantly during the March holiday period each year. A variety of activities take place on site, including a maple tapping tour, maple taffy tasting, syrup tasting and pancake breakfast. Live music is also provided along with breakfast at weekends. The Tomori family’s efforts not only contribute to the success of a family business spanning generations, but also to preserving Ontario’s cultural heritage.