Supporting Canada’s harvest: How the Temporary Foreign Worker program sustains horticulture

The work of growing, tending, and harvesting fruits and vegetables drives much of Canadian horticulture — but demands endurance and skill. Long hours under the sun, physically demanding tasks, and unpredictable weather make these jobs difficult to fill locally. Over time, the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program has become not just a solution but a critical support for the industry’s survival.

While recent debates have criticized the programs, boots on the ground tell a more nuanced story. Behind every basket of apples, every bushel of peaches, and every ton of grapes is a network of individuals who come to Canada to work hard, support their families back home, and contribute meaningfully to our food economy.

Why the TFW program matters to horticulture

Producers across Canada, particularly in the fruit and vegetable sectors, rely heavily on temporary foreign workers to meet seasonal labour needs. The nature of horticultural work — labour-intensive and time-sensitive — creates a demand that a local workforce often cannot fill.

The program began with a practical insight: during off-peak seasons in regions like the Caribbean and Mexico, job opportunities are scarce. The program provided a win-win solution by offering temporary work in Canada during its growing season. It employed workers from abroad and supported local producers. Many workers returned to the same farms year after year, fostering long-standing relationships that extended beyond mere contracts and paycheques.

What’s often overlooked is the deep agricultural knowledge many of these workers bring with them. In Mexico, for example, many temporary workers are farmers themselves. They come with practical, hands-on experience that translates directly to the work they do here — from understanding how to handle crops to anticipating changes in weather or field conditions and, most of all, the safe operation of large complex equipment. That experience reduces training time and improves efficiency, consistency and safety in the field. These workers aren’t just learning on the job — they’re often teaching it.

They’re also highly motivated. For many, the months spent working in Canada are an opportunity to provide for their families back home. It’s not unusual for workers to prefer seven-day workweeks, seeing every shift as a chance to earn more and bring back greater financial stability. In that sense, these jobs are far from exploitative. The nature of the business demands this, but it rewards those who are prepared to go the extra mile. There is a purpose, and the results are transformative.

Along the way, they also contribute to the vitality of rural communities. Workers spend locally, from groceries to goods and services, while they’re here, helping support small businesses and shaping seasonal demand in agricultural regions. 

In some cases, workers have returned to the same farms across generations, becoming part of the farm’s identity. This highlights that the program is often far from transactional but can create long-term relationships built on trust, shared goals, and mutual benefit.

A program built on structure and protection

The TFW program is highly regulated, balancing the needs of Canadian employers with strong protections for workers. Producers must meet both federal and provincial requirements, and the sponsoring countries oversee everything from wages to housing and working conditions.

Before a worker ever steps foot on a farm, the employer must demonstrate a genuine effort to hire Canadians, advertising positions through multiple channels. Housing inspections, access to healthcare, and transportation arrangements are mandatory parts of the process. In many communities, support networks have grown around the seasonal workforce, offering services like Spanish-language church services, community events, and bicycle programs to help workers feel connected and mobile. Monitoring is constant and ongoing. A liaison process responds to all complaints.

While the program is essential to Canadian food production, its design goes beyond necessity. The intent is not just to fill a labour gap but to ensure workers are treated with dignity, fairness, and care. This includes safe accommodations, access to health services, and a strong framework of rights to protect workers while they are here. The program emphasizes quality of life, not just productivity.

Critics of the program often raise concerns about working conditions or fair treatment. While no system is perfect, significant safeguards are built into the program. Workers have access to liaison officers who advocate on their behalf, ensuring any issues with accommodations, wages, or treatment are addressed quickly and fairly. Most producers recognize the value of building trust and loyalty with their workers because a happy returning workforce benefits the entire operation.