Meet the faces behind the Ontario produce on your plate! Each year thousands of migrant farm workers make their way to Ontario to work on fruit and vegetable farms around the province. While for many of them this experience is relatively new, some workers have been returning to Ontario farms for over 20 years! From trumpet players to carpenters, they all have a unique story to share. Click the profiles below to learn more about the women and men who play such an important role on our farms.
Tyrone J., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
About 14 years ago, Tyrone J. decided to stop working in his home country of Jamaica and join Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program in the agricultural sector. And for the entirety of his 14 years with the Canadian TFW Program, Tyrone has been a member of the Nature Fresh Farms team!
Elder P., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
Back in his home country of Guatemala, Elder P. had a few different jobs, including picking coffee beans, delivering coffee beans by truck, growing corn, and even working as a mechanic. In 2018, Elder decided to come to Canada and become a Guest Worker as part of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. Elder has been a great addition to our General Labor team!
Martin S., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
For the last 10 years, Martin S. has been working at Nature Fresh Farms. Originally from Mexico, Martin decided to join Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program 14 years ago to help support his wife and six children financially. We have been happy to have Martin as a member of our team for the last decade!
Yenifer L., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
Yenifer L. has been working as part of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program for the last year, and all her time within the program has been spent at Nature Fresh Farms. Originally from Guatemala, Yenifer previously worked growing and harvesting beans and corn in her home country. Now, she is saving as much money as she can here in Canada so she can have a good life in Guatemala.
Israel L., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
For the last six years, Israel L. has worked at our greenhouse operation with Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Israel comes from a humble, affectionate family in Guatemala who have a desire to excel and always be better, so his choice to come to Canada was largely driven by his family’s ambition to live a better life.
Jose C., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
Jose C. grew up in Guatemala as the youngest of five brothers. Back home, Jose found work growing broccoli and corn, but in 2018, he decided to come to Canada and work as part of the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. Since he arrived, Jose has been a member of the Nature Fresh Farms General Labor team!
Desrine, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica
I’ve been coming from Jamaica to work on this peach farm for 21 years. I heard about the program from my MP. I was pleased to be chosen. Not everyone gets selected. It seemed like a good way to help my family. I’ve got four children. Working here helped them go to school. Three of them now live in the USA.
Felena, Farm Worker from Trinidad and Tobago
I’ve been coming to Canada from Trinidad since 2013. I saw an advertisement looking for farm workers and applied. Usually, I arrive in April but last year it was July 6 before I got here because borders were closed due to Covid. Back home, I have two children – a girl age 16 and a […]
Jorge C., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
Coming from a large and humble family in Guatemala, Jorge C. was raised with strong values and ambitions to always be better. Jorge had a few different jobs before deciding to come work as part of Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program – he worked at a canning factory, harvested corn and beans, and even drove a motorcycle taxi.
Jose M., Guest Worker at Nature Fresh Farms
About 24 years ago, Jose M. decided to start working in Canada’s agricultural sector as part of the country’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Before finding his way to Nature Fresh Farms, Jose worked in construction in his home country of Mexico, and then on an apple farm for his first five years in Canada. Of all our guest workers, Jose has been here the longest.
Coralee, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica
One of my friends introduced me to the Seasonal Agricultural Worker program. I’ve been coming from Jamaica to work on this peach farm since 2009. Back home, I also do some farming. We raise chickens and I plant crops like yams. When I’m away, my brother looks after it for me.
Giovanni C., Guest worker at Nature Fresh Farms
Originally from Mexico, Giovanni C. came to Canada to become a Guest Worker with Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program in 2016, and he has worked at Nature Fresh Farms since his arrival. Before coming to Canada, Giovanni worked for a forestry company in Mexico that planted new and removed old or damaged trees.