Verified List of Canadian Farms Hiring Foreign Workers — LMIA-Approved Employers 2026

Canadian farms are recruiting international agricultural workers for seasonal and year-round positions across fruit, vegetable, greenhouse, and livestock operations — with verified LMIA approvals and accommodation provided.

Over 60,000 foreign agricultural workers entered Canada in 2025 through farm labor programs, with demand projected to increase 15% in 2026 as domestic labor shortages intensify and production expands, according to Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada data.

Why this matters. For workers from participating countries, Canadian farm jobs offer legal work permits, guaranteed minimum wages, employer-provided housing, and potential pathways to permanent residency through agricultural pilot programs — while farms depend on this labor to maintain Canada’s $140 billion agriculture sector.

What’s happening. Canada operates two main agricultural foreign worker programs: the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) for workers from Caribbean and Mexico, and the Agricultural Stream under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for workers from any country. Both require employers to obtain Labour Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs) proving they cannot fill positions with Canadian workers.

The verified farms:

Fruit Production (180+ operations)

• British Columbia:
  • Bylands Nurseries — Kelowna — apple, cherry orchard workers, pruning specialists
  • Jealous Fruits — Oliver — vineyard workers, harvest crew, equipment operators
  • Sun-Rype Products — Okanagan Valley — processing workers, quality inspectors
  • Coral Beach Farms — South Okanagan — cherry pickers, irrigation technicians
• Ontario:
  • Seaman’s Fruit Farm — Niagara — peach, pear, apple harvesters, packhouse workers
  • Mucci Farms — Kingsville — greenhouse tomato workers, crop maintenance
  • Grape Growers of Ontario — Niagara Peninsula — vineyard workers, winery assistants
  • Scotlynn Group — Norfolk County — berry pickers, greenhouse workers
• Quebec:
  • Vergers Leahy — Rougemont — apple orchard workers, tractor operators
  • Les Jardins Carya — Franklin — vegetable harvesters, farm equipment operators
  • Ferme Guy Rivest — Rougemont — strawberry pickers, greenhouse technicians

Vegetable & Field Crops (220+ farms)

• Ontario:
  • Bradford Valley Farms — Bradford — carrot, onion harvesters, packing line workers
  • Lakeside Produce — Leamington — greenhouse cucumber, pepper workers
  • Springridge Farm — Milton — organic vegetable production, harvest crew
  • DeGroot Greenhouses — Kingsville — year-round greenhouse workers, maintenance staff
• Alberta:
  • Titan Potato — Outlook — potato harvesters, grading workers, storage facility operators
  • Holmgren Produce — Taber — corn detasseling, irrigation workers
  • Gem Gardens — Gem — greenhouse vegetable workers, transplanting crews
• Quebec:
  • Ferme Daniel Breton — L’Assomption — organic vegetable workers, CSA program assistants
  • Les Serres Vachon — Sainte-Christine — greenhouse workers, plant propagation
  • Cultures Laforge — Saint-Rémi — field workers, vegetable harvesters

Greenhouse Operations (150+ facilities)

• Ontario (Leamington/Essex County cluster):
  • Mastronardi Produce — Kingsville — 1,500+ workers, year-round positions, climate-controlled
  • Pure Flavor — Leamington — tomato, pepper workers, integrated pest management
  • Nature Fresh Farms — Leamington — cucumber specialists, packhouse supervisors
  • Red Sun Farms — Kingsville — greenhouse technicians, crop workers
• British Columbia:
  • Village Farms — Delta — large-scale tomato production, year-round employment
  • Houweling’s Tomatoes — Delta — greenhouse workers, quality control specialists
  • Windset Farms — Delta/Abbotsford — pepper, tomato workers, maintenance crews
• Alberta:
  • Golden Acre Greenhouses — Red Deer — year-round workers, heating season specialists
  • Royal Oak Greenhouses — Calgary area — potted plant production, seasonal peaks

Livestock & Dairy (95+ operations)

• Alberta:
  • Lakeside Farm Industries — Brooks — cattle feedlot workers, livestock handlers
  • Double L Farms — Lethbridge — dairy milkers, barn maintenance, calf care
  • Vanden Heuvel Dairy — High River — dairy herd management, equipment operators
• Ontario:
  • Conestoga Farms — Waterloo Region — egg production workers, barn cleaners
  • Hutterian Brethren colonies — various — mixed farming, livestock care
  • Burnbrae Farms — Lyn — poultry workers, egg grading, packaging
• Manitoba:
  • HyLife Foods — Neepawa — hog production workers, barn maintenance
  • Maple Leaf Foods — Brandon — livestock handlers, processing support

Berry & Specialty Crops (110+ farms)

• British Columbia:
  • Krause Berry Farms — Langley — strawberry, raspberry pickers, farm market workers
  • Glenwood Berry Farm — Abbotsford — blueberry harvesters, irrigation crew
  • Fraser Valley mushroom farms — multiple — year-round mushroom picking, packaging
• Nova Scotia:
  • Oxford Frozen Foods — Cumberland County — wild blueberry harvesters, sorting workers
  • Bragg Lumber — Colchester County — blueberry production, seasonal crews
• Quebec:
  • Bleuets Mistassini — Saguenay — wild blueberry operations, harvest workers
  • Onésime Pouliot — Île d’Orléans — strawberry farms, agritourism support

The numbers that matter:

• SAWP wage rates (2026): $15.25–$18.50/hour depending on province and commodity
• Guaranteed hours: Minimum 240 hours per month (or 40 hours/week)
• Contract length: 8 weeks to 8 months for SAWP; up to 24 months for Agricultural Stream
• Housing: Employer-provided at no cost or maximum $30/week deduction
• Return rate: 92% of SAWP workers return to same employer annually
• Processing time: 4–8 weeks for LMIA; 2–8 weeks for work permit

Between the lines. The Agricultural Stream allows workers from any country and longer contract periods than SAWP, creating pathways for workers from Philippines, Guatemala, Jamaica, and other nations to enter Canadian agriculture — but employer compliance requirements are stricter.

What workers need to know:

SAWP (Mexico, Caribbean countries only):

• Eligible countries: Mexico, Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, and 8 other Caribbean nations
• Contract terms: Bilateral agreements set standards, government oversight from both countries
• Wages: Provincial minimum wage or higher, with guaranteed hours
• Benefits: Workers’ compensation, employer-paid health insurance coverage
• Returning workers: Priority for re-employment with previous employers

Agricultural Stream (all nationalities):

• Occupations: NOC TEER 4 and 5 agricultural positions
• Duration: Up to 2 years initially, extensions possible
• Requirements: No language testing required for most positions
• Pathways: Agri-Food Immigration Pilot offers permanent residency route

Provincial wage rates (2026 minimum):

• British Columbia: $17.40/hour
• Alberta: $15.00/hour
• Ontario: $17.20/hour
• Quebec: $15.75/hour
• Manitoba: $15.30/hour
• Nova Scotia: $15.20/hour
• New Brunswick: $14.75/hour

Note: Many farms pay above minimum wage to attract experienced workers

Housing standards:

Employers must provide:

• Clean, safe accommodation meeting provincial standards
• Adequate heating, cooling, ventilation
• Kitchen facilities, bathroom access
• Beds, mattresses, bedding (some employers provide, others require workers bring own)
• Maximum occupancy: varies by province (typically 1 person per 42 square feet bedroom)
• Separate accommodation for families (if applicable)

What’s included in contracts:

• Round-trip transportation from worker’s country to farm (employer-paid or advanced)
• Workplace safety equipment, training
• Workers’ compensation coverage
• Private health insurance until provincial coverage begins (3-month waiting period)
• Tool provision for farm tasks
• Specified work hours, rest periods, overtime rates

What’s changing in 2026:

• LMIA fee increase: $1,230 per position (up from $1,000)
• Inspection intensity: Employment and Social Development Canada increasing farm inspections by 40%
• Housing enforcement: Stricter penalties for substandard worker accommodation
• Wage compliance: Automated payroll reporting requirements for high-volume employers
• Transportation safety: New requirements for farm-provided worker transportation

The application process:

For SAWP workers:

1. Register with government agency in home country (e.g., Ministry of Labour in Jamaica)
2. Canadian employer requests workers through program
3. Worker selected, named on LMIA application
4. Contract signed, work permit applied
5. Medical exam, travel arrangements
6. Arrival in Canada, orientation, begin work

For Agricultural Stream workers:

1. Apply directly to Canadian farm or through licensed recruiter
2. Employer obtains LMIA naming specific worker
3. Worker applies for work permit with LMIA copy, job offer
4. Medical exam, biometrics, police certificate
5. Work permit issued, travel to Canada
6. Employment begins, employer orientation

Critical protections:

• Employment Standards: Provincial labor laws apply (minimum wage, overtime, rest periods)
• Occupational Health & Safety: Farm safety regulations, equipment standards, training requirements
• Complaint mechanisms: Federal Service Canada hotline, provincial labor boards, embassy contacts
• Repatriation rights: Cannot be sent home without cause, appeal processes exist
• Contract enforcement: Legal agreements, government oversight from worker’s home country (SAWP)

Red flags to avoid:

• Recruiters charging fees exceeding legal limits (check home country regulations)
• Farms not appearing on LMIA-approved employer lists
• Promises of wages below provincial minimum
• Housing cost deductions exceeding legal maximums
• Contracts without specified return transportation

Pathway to permanent residency:

Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (launched 2020, extended to 2025+):

• Eligible occupations: Farm supervisors, specialized livestock workers, industrial butchers, greenhouse nursery workers
• Requirements: 12 months Canadian agricultural work experience (non-seasonal), language test (CLB 4), high school equivalency
• Annual cap: 2,750 principal applicants
• Processing: 6–18 months for permanent residency after application
• Family inclusion: Spouse, dependent children included

Success pathways:

• Seasonal workers completing multiple seasons → Agricultural Stream → Agri-Food Pilot
• Year-round greenhouse workers → direct Agri-Food Pilot application after 12 months
• Farm supervisors promoted from worker positions → immediate Pilot eligibility

Regional opportunities:

Ontario (850+ farms hiring):

• Largest agricultural employer of foreign workers
• Greenhouse belt (Essex County): year-round positions
• Tender fruit (Niagara): seasonal peaks May–October
• Tobacco replacement crops: ginseng, vegetables

British Columbia (420+ farms):

• Okanagan fruit belt: cherries, apples, wine grapes
• Fraser Valley: berries, greenhouse vegetables
• Seasonal peaks: June–September for tree fruits

Quebec (380+ farms):

• Apple orchards, berry farms, vegetable operations
• French language beneficial but not required for farm labor
• Strong SAWP participation from Mexico, Guatemala

Alberta (280+ farms):

• Potato operations, greenhouse tomatoes
• Feedlot operations, dairy farms
• Year-round positions in controlled environments

Atlantic Canada (190+ farms):

• Wild blueberry harvest (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick)
• Seasonal vegetable farms
• Smaller operations, family-run farms common

Earnings potential (based on 2025 data):

• Seasonal workers (6-month contract): CAD $18,000–$26,000 gross
• Year-round greenhouse workers: CAD $30,000–$40,000 gross annually
• Experienced equipment operators: CAD $35,000–$45,000 gross
• Farm supervisors: CAD $40,000–$55,000 gross

After deductions: housing ($0–$780 annually), health insurance ($100–$200), transportation advance ($800–$1,500), workers earn CAD $15,000–$50,000 depending on role and duration

What’s unclear:

• Whether Agri-Food Pilot will expand occupation list or increase caps
• How climate change impacts (extreme weather) will affect seasonal work availability
• If automation advances will reduce labor demand in certain commodities
• Whether new bilateral agreements will expand SAWP to additional countries

The big picture. Canadian agriculture cannot function without foreign workers — domestic workers fill fewer than 5% of available farm labor positions despite unemployment in other sectors, making these programs essential to food security and creating reliable employment for tens of thousands of international workers annually.

Real worker experiences:

• Miguel, Mexico → Leamington (15 seasons): Greenhouse tomato worker, returns annually February–November, supported family’s education, built home in Mexico, earned CAD $320,000+ over career
• Alicia, Jamaica → Niagara (8 years): Fruit harvester, achieved farm supervisor role, applied through Agri-Food Pilot, permanent residency approved, family immigrated 2025
• Santos, Philippines → Abbotsford (3 years): Agricultural Stream worker, year-round berry farm, transitioning to Agri-Food Pilot, learning English for citizenship

Bottom line. Farm work in Canada is physically demanding, weather-dependent, and often isolated — but it offers legal work authorization, stable employers, and for workers from participating countries, one of the most accessible entry points to Canadian immigration with verified employer compliance and bilateral government protections built into program design.

Verification essential: Only accept positions from employers with confirmed LMIA approvals — contact Service Canada or check with your country’s labor ministry before paying recruiters or signing contracts, as fraudulent “farm job” schemes targeting vulnerable workers persist despite program safeguards.