We employ hundreds of Guest Workers from AROUND THE WORLD
At Nature Fresh Farms, we employ hundreds of Guest Workers from around the world through the Canadian government’s Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program. These Guest Workers come to our farms – with many of the same Guest Workers requesting to return to our farms every season – to lend their skills within our operations. Our Guest Workers Support many different activities at our company that are essential to its success.
At our Delta, Ohio greenhouse facility, we also apply every season to employ seasonal Guest Workers through the US government’s H-2A Temporary Agricultural Workers Program. These seasonal Guest Workers come to our Ohio location – with many requesting to return to our facilities each season – to fulfill general greenhouse labor positions. The work of our seasonal Guest Workers is essential for the success of our Ohio-based operation!
*All group photos were taken prior to March 2020.
Why do we employ Guest Workers?
Alongside Nature Fresh Farms, Guest Workers are employed at hundreds of greenhouse and field farms across Canada and the United States to help with crop maintenance, harvesting, and handling of local agricultural products so they can be distributed across North America. Without the important help we receive from our Guest Workers, it would be impossible for us to maintain, pick, pack, and ship all the fresh produce we grow at our farms to feed people across Canada and the United States. It is important that we always recognize our Guest Workers as essential members of our team who are driving our food supply chain forward!
We often receive the question:
WHY DON’T YOU HIRE LOCALS?
We hire local team members wherever possible, and we are always advertising and looking to hire workers locally. However, the reality is that local job seekers rarely apply for General Labor greenhouse positions, whereas our Guest Workers willingly choose to seek out these job opportunities in Canada or the United States. There are several reasons why they may make this choice:
- The opportunities available to many of these individuals are often scarce, do not provide a lot of job security, and/or pay very little in comparison to the job opportunities they can gain access to in Canada or the USA through Guest Worker programs.
- In many situations, the money our Guest Workers earn with us gives them better access to things like health care and education in their home countries.
- Many Guest Workers have families to support in their home countries, so a secure job in a safe country with a reputable company that allows them to regularly send money to their families is an appealing opportunity for them.
Where do your Guest Workers Live?
Our living quarters are meant to provide our Guest Workers with all the essential amenities they need to live comfortably while working on our farms. All communal kitchens are stocked with fridges, freezers, sinks, ovens, appliances, utensils, dishes, and storage space so Guest Workers can cook whatever food they would like. Everyone also has their own storage space in which they can keep personal food items.
Other communal areas found in their living quarters include a large dining area, lounge area, laundry room, and washroom and shower facilities. There is a television and free access to phones located in the lounge area, as well as free internet and air conditioning that can be accessed throughout the facility. Many of our living quarters also have a large covered patio where our Guest Workers can socialize, barbecue, and store their bikes. There is also a recreational area located outside of each living accommodation.
There are many by-laws that must be adhered to and strict government requirements to meet when building these living quarters. Before any Guest Worker arrives, our living quarters are also thoroughly inspected by federal government agencies to ensure they meet their expectations. This is done every eight months, even if it is the same Guest Worker’s quarters who is returning year after year.
Guest Workers also have the choice to live offsite and organize their own accommodations and transportation to and from the workplace.
We Support Our Team
Many of our Guest Workers make the decision to come to Canada or the United States so they can find a secure, safe job that lets them support their families financially and provide them with a better quality of life. We have proudly employed some of the same Guest Workers year after year for almost 20 years, and we will do all we can to continue to support their ambitions as providers for their loved ones back home.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS