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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Meet Jesús, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Mexico
I have been coming to Canada for twenty years since 2001 and I came here to this farm in 2005. It is a farm that I like because the work is very nice. When I arrived back then for work, I picked strawberries, cut asparagus, pruned blueberries, cut green beans and picked peas.
Meet Antonio, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Mexico
My name is Antonio Copalcua Vásquez and I am from Mexico. Here my job is to load and unload the trucks arriving. Fruit, vegetables, everything, I put them in refrigerators to keep them fresh and good. I have been in this program for 22 years and on this farm 13 seasons.
Meet Luis, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Mexico
I have been here for six years. Here we harvest asparagus, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, green onions, peas and other things. When I am not here, I have work in Mexico. Everyone can have a job, but you do not earn enough money to be well there. So that is why we have to immigrate to this country. I live in a village in a village in the state of Michoacán.
Meet Nahum, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Mexico
My name is Nahum Vazquez Meneses. My job here is to harvest the raspberries and strawberries. It is my first year working here at this farm, but I have been in the agricultural workers program for 17 years. I have been in different regions of Canada including Manitoba, Alberta, Quebec and Ontario.
Meet Ermel, Seasonal Agricultural Worker from Mexico
My name is Ermel Colli. I come from the state of Yucatán. I have been coming to Canada for two years to work. I came here to improve the life of my family. I have three children. One is studying accounting, another is in high school and the other is in elementary school in second grade. I had applied twice to be eligible for the farm worker program before I was accepted.