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?

The answer is:

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.

We often receive the question:

WHY DON’T YOU HIRE LOCALS?

The answer is:

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.

Read Jhonatan S.'s profile.
Read Jose M.'s profile.
Read Nery L.'s profile.
Read Ryan H.'s profile.
Read Carlos M.'s profile.
Read Juan J.'s profile.
Read Jose C.'s profile.
Read Israel L.'s profile.
Read Tyrone J.'s profile.
Read Yenifer L.'s profile.
Read Tereso M.'s profile.
Read Jorge C.'s profile.
Read Elder P.'s profile.
Read Odin M.'s profile.
Read Gervacio E.'s profile.
Read Edwin V.'s profile.
Read Giovanni C.'s profile.
Read Martin S.'s profile.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

  • Where are our Guest Workers from?

    Our Guest Workers hail from many different countries, including Jamaica, Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras, and Thailand.

  • How do these Guest Worker programs work?

    At a federal level, the Government of Canada and the United States government are both responsible for overseeing their respective Guest Worker programs to ensure all businesses participating in the programs adhere to their strict guidelines and policies. We are subject to inspections by government agencies in both Canada and the United States to ensure the accommodation guidelines they’ve established are followed, as well as to ensure the treatment of our Guest Workers meets their program expectations. At Nature Fresh Farms, our team works hard to ensure that we not only meet but exceed these program requirements.

  • How do we support our Guest Workers?

    Every member of our team is also a member of our family. As our family members, our Guest Workers are treated with as much care and respect as any other member of our team.

    Health & Wellbeing

    In addition to housing them in comfortable living quarters, we also provide our Guest Workers with other support and access to resources that they need to ensure their overall health and well-being.

    For all Guest Workers who do not speak English, we also have many staff members on hand to assist in providing them with translation support where needed. We have also ensured signage, forms, and communications for our Guest Workers are provided to them in their first language.

    From helping to arrange medical visits, to sponsoring recreational activities, the physical, emotional, and mental health and well-being of our Guest Workers is of utmost importance to us.

    Employee Appreciation

    We truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of every one of our Guest Workers. Not only do we express this appreciation through the way we care for and support our Guest Workers daily, but we also make a point to acknowledge their efforts through a variety of employee appreciation events and accolades throughout the year. From Christmas parties and barbecues with gifts and prizes to be won, to Employee of the Month awards, we ensure there are ample opportunities to acknowledge the incredible efforts of our Guest Workers!

  • COVID-19 support

    The COVID-19 pandemic has presented our company, as well as the agricultural industry in general, with unprecedented challenges.

    To limit exposure and spread of COVID-19 amongst our Guest Workers, we had local food and grocery vendors that met all health and safety guidelines set up mobile units for our Guest Workers to purchase groceries and essential items on-site at our farms. We also arranged for representatives from local financial institutions to come to our farms on a regular basis to help our Guest Workers complete financial transactions and transfers on-site. We also partnered with BMO Financial Group to place an ATM on-site at our farm to make everyday banking transactions more accessible for our workers. We encouraged and enforced physical distancing measures for our entire workforce wherever possible, and both local staff and Guest Workers were given proper PPE to help protect them against COVID-19.

    We also enforced the following health and safety measures throughout our facilities to help protect both our local and Guest Workers from COVID-19 (with these procedures still in place, among others):

    • Intensified cleaning procedures were put in place to ensure all high touchpoint areas of our facilities are thoroughly cleaned on a regular basis
    • Sanitation stations were placed at every entryway
    • Workstations and lunchroom tables were spaced out at least 6 feet apart to allow for proper physical distancing, and protective face masks are required to be worn by individuals in workspaces where physical distancing is a challenge
    • Lunchtimes, start times, and end times were staggered to allow for more physical distancing between employees
    • All workers are required to be assessed and cleared for work before beginning their shift

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