Seasonal Farm Worker Profiles

Profiles

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.

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male farm employee standing in apple orchard

Meet Chaplin, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica

My name is Chaplin White, and I am from Troy in Trelawny, Jamaica. This is my fifteenth time coming to Canada on this program. I started this program for a better life. Back home, I do farming. I plant yams, bananas, and plantains and raise livestock like cows and goats.

male employee smiling for camera in apple orchard

Meet Delroy, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica

My name is Delroy Martin, and I am from St. Thomas, Jamaica. I came to this farm 33 years ago; I was young, always wanting to work. I've seen changes while I've lived in Canada. The first thing would be that it's not as cold as it used to be. When I first started, it was real, real cold. Canada isn't that cold anymore, and the work is getting much easier.

male employee smiling for camera in apple orchard

Meet Carlos, Seasonal Agriculture Worker from Jamaica

I am Carlos Baker from Jamaica. People call me Kevin back home - but my real name is Carlos. I have been here for nine years now. I love it here. I want to live here, but it is hard to get the status to stay here. Back home, I have a wife, and we have been together for 23 years - her name is Camile.

apple grower standing in orchard

Meet Greg, Fruit Grower at Ardiel Acres

I have many fond memories of growing up with these men and workers on the farm. I watched them when I was young, talked with them, and heard their stories over the years. I have even more fond memories of getting to work with them while getting to know them better. They have shared what their lives are like back home.

apple grower holding an apple while posing for camera

Meet John, Fruit Grower at Ardiel Acres

We are in the Beaver Valley just outside of Thornbury. This is our home farm, and we are celebrating our 103rd anniversary of family apple growing. We started with the farm worker program in 1979. The seasonal workers arrive in the spring to help us prune, thin, plant trees, and do all the regular Orchard growing practices. We presently have 60 Jamaican workers helping us. We consider these workers our family. 

farm employee smiles for camera while holding apples

Meet Dykelon, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica

My name is Dykelon Murray – but everyone calls me Murray. I’ve been coming to Canada for 22 years; 15 years at this farm. I decided to come here to help my family back home and to help myself. On this farm, I drive the equipment, I do all the spraying of the farm. I help with the pruning. Canadians should know that we work hard.

farm employee smiling for camera

Meet Chrishaine, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica

I’m Chrishaine Gowdie and I’m from Manchester, Jamaica. I’ve been comi­­ng to Canada and this farm for seven years. I came here just to make life a little better for my family back home. I pick apples and grapes, prune and other stuff. I do construction when I go back home for the winter.

farm employee smiling for camera

Meet Paul, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica

My name is Paul Sharrier and I’m from Central Clarington in Jamaica. I’m 41 years old and have been coming to this farm about seven years. The truth of the matter is that our economy is not as good as yours. So when we come here and go back, it allows us to earn a better living to help ourselves and our family back home.

male farm employee smiling for camera

Meet Perry, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Jamaica

My name is Perry Richards and I’m from th­e Parish of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica. I’ve been coming to Canada for around 29 years but working here for 17 years. It’s helpful to us to be here. It’s helpful to my family; helpful to get my kids through school.

male farm worker smiling for camera

Meet Juan, Seasonal Agriculture Worker from Mexico

I have been coming to Canada for five years to work growing potatoes. Coming to Canada makes a huge difference for us. We would never have the opportunity in Mexico to make what we can here in eight months. It is nice to see my table at home full of food and to see my wife happy.

male farm worker standing in warehouse facility

Meet Fermin, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Mexico

My name is Fermin Hernandez Lais. I have two sons, my oldest, Gerardo, is 27, and my younger son David is 20. I am so proud that Gerardo finished school this month for engineering and David has just finished school. I have worked here in Canada for 20 years and at this potato farm for the last five years.

male seasonal agricultural worker holding box of strawberries

Meet Humberto, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Mexico

My name is Humberto Castellano and I have been coming to Canada from Mexico for 12 years. I have worked here at this farm for seven years. Today my job is to bring in the fruit, check the fruit and also to help my co-workers pick. In Canada, I work on two farms. I come from a Christmas tree farm, where I work for two months.