When you look at it, agriculture is a typical economic booster for any country. It is an important aspect of life that can not be neglected because of the purposes of agriculture in our life. Agriculture provides shelter, foods, money, etc improving the lives of the people. Canada’s agricultural industry has seen many positive changes over the years as the country has invested into the sector, which is now the fastest growing industry in the country.
The country has always been seeking for manpower in this sector especially for seasonal workers in the role of a fruit-picker. If you have already been interested in working in this role or you look forward to working in Canada temporarily, then this is your opportunity because Canada is currently recruiting seasonal workers who are going to work in the country for a particular period of time. In this article, you are going to learn about where seasonal workers like fruit pickers are currently needed, how to apply, the duties of a fruit picker and benefits of working as a fruit picker in Canada.
The Overview of Fruit-Picking Jobs in Canada
Fruit-picking is a seasonal job in Canada where workers are allowed to work temporarily from spring till Autumn. Seasonal workers are like every other job in Canada and they enjoy the same privileges and rights that other workers are receiving. Fruit picking jobs involve picking of several kinds of fruits like apples, bananas, cherries, grapes, berries, etc after being plucked or falling from the tree. The kind of fruits to be picked depend on the location, season, plantation, etc.
A fruit picker job in Canada is an on-farm job i.e a job that requires you to be present in the farm at least 6 hours per day. It is physically demanding but not exhausting and while working on the job, you will gather quite a lot of experience from other sectors of the jobs like animal rearing, poultry farm, etc., which will be a big advantage to you in your career. Other workers on the farm include: the tractor engineer, the herdsmen, the livestock farmer, etc. Mostly all kinds of seasonal jobs are visa sponsorship jobs i.e a job in which your visa application fees are sponsored by your Canada employer.
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The Duties of a Fruit Picker in Canada
As a fruit picker in Canada, you will be responsible for a list of duties and roles on the farm which includes your main or primary assignment on the farm. These duties are:
- You will be responsible for the picking up of fruits after the fall from the tree or being plucked out after maturity.
- You are also going to sort these fruits according to size, level of ripeness, quality and names of each of them.
- You will be responsible for the proper handling of the fruits from the farm to the storage room.
- The proper storage of the fruits will also be your duty.
- Maintenance of cleanliness and good hygiene with the fruits and in the work areas.
- You may also have to design your method of collection of the fruits for easiness on your end.
- It will be best to be uptight and maintain absolute integrity while working.
- You will have to follow every guidelines and rules set by your employer to maintain a proper workplace condition.
Popular Regions for Fruit picker Jobs in Canada
Some cities are popular for fruit picker jobs in Canada with a good weekly pay by different employers in the vicinities, These regions include:
Kelowna in British Columbia
Description: The city, Kelowna, is located in the Okanagan Valley which is known for vineyards. It will be a good place to work for fruit pickers because of its fertile soil, essential for the growth of fruits like: peaches, grapes and apples. These fruits can be produced in large quantities in this region.
Approximated weekly wages: $600 – $800
Abbotsford in British Columbia
Description: This place is known for berries especially the blue ones. Farm owners are large in this area and they invest quite big in the berry industry which makes it a busy market during summer period. Fruit pickers in this area enjoy a lot of opportunities with high paid salaries and other amazing benefits that come along with high performance in the market.
Approximated Weekly wages: $600 – $800
Niagara Region in Ontario
Description: This region is popular for wineries and vineyards, including fruits like grapes, apples, and peaches. Fruit pickers pick grapes for the wine industry, including apples and peaches. Farm owners in Niagara pay quite a huge sum of money for the service of a fruit picker with visa sponsorship and free housing allocations to foreign workers around the world and other regions in Canada.
Approximated Weekly Wages: $650 – $850
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Prince Edward Island
Description: This region may be small but it is well known for its agricultural sector, which includes apple and strawberry farms. Fruit pickers in this region work mostly in a season mode. Farm owners in this region pay very high competitive wages for their workers. They also provide different types of support for fruit pickers to make the region an enabling environment to live.
Approximated Weekly wages: $550 – $750
Quebec City in Quebec
Description: This city has many apple, blueberry and orchards farms which are mostly located all around the city. Even though fruit picking in this region is seasonal but still available in all seasons and very high in late summer and early fall. Farm owners in Quebec are good agricultural employers because they pay handsomely well for fruit-picking roles and many opportunities are available to work in different areas in Quebec.
Approximated Weekly wages: $600 – $800
Montreal region in Quebec
Description: Montreal in Quebec is another beautiful region in Quebec, known for apples, vineyards, etc. The farm owners are always in high demand for fruit pickers especially during the harvesting period. They pay very handsomely and offer visa sponsorship to foreign workers with other benefits.
Approximated Weekly wages: $600 – $850
The Eligibility criteria and Requirements for Fruit-Picking Jobs in Canada
A fruit picker job in Canada does not necessarily need a strict qualification like formal education, etc. but other requirements to note include:
- Language proficiency: You will need to be fluent in English or French language for better communication. For more clarification, you may need an IELTS exam score to prove your fluency.
- Personal documents: Some personal documents like birth certificate, a valid ID passport, etc will be requested to continue your application.
- Physical Fitness: A fruit picking job requires you to be physically fit because the job is labour intensive, which involves bending, walking, load(fruits) lifting and carrying for hours from the farm to the storage room.
- Punctuality and Reliability: This job requires to be punctual, honest, and always straight-forward. To gain your employer’s trust, you must always be trustworthy and dependable.
- Quality control: You must pay good attention to every detail of the job, including the guidelines, working procedures and storage rules in managing all the fruits.
- Ability to work outdoors: Fruit picking job requires you to work outside in the farm. As a fruit picker in Canada, you must be comfortable enough to work in different weather conditions like snows, hot sun, and rain.
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How to Apply for Fruit-picking Jobs with Visa Sponsorship
Most fruit pickers can apply for two main visa programmes which are the Seasonal Agricultural worker programme (SAWP) and Canada’s Temporary Foreign worker programme (TWFP). These two programmes are usually available with visa sponsorship offers. The following are the steps to apply for fruit picking jobs in Canada:
- Search various Job portals: You can search various job portals to look for vacancies in fruit picking jobs in Canada. Available job portals include: Canadian Job Bank, AgriRecruiting, etc.
- Prepare all the requested Documents: Some certain documents will be needed for verification by your employer or the Canadian government which include: proof of age (birth certificate), a valid ID passport, work experience, etc.
- Apply and Follow up: After necessary verification, you will need to apply and check for more updates from your employers.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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How many hours do fruit pickers work in Canada?
Fruit pickers work for around 6-8 hours per day, even though these hours vary based on weather and the plant growth. Most work is done early in the morning, especially in hot weather.
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Is accommodation available for fruit pickers?
Some farm owners offer accommodation for their workers mostly for those who are foreign workers or do not live within the region.
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Is it needed to speak English or French to work as a fruit picker?
Mostly, it is needed to speak either English or French language to communicate effectively during work.
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Will I be able to extend my stay in Canada after my seasonal job ends?
Even though some jobs are time bound and do not allow you to extend your after it has ended but some do allow it.