Seasonal fruit and vegetable harvest jobs in the USA: H-2A visa, pay and calendar

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What does the US harvest season involve?

American agriculture relies every year on hundreds of thousands of seasonal workers to hand-pick crops that machines cannot handle well: berries, apples, citrus, fresh vegetables, tobacco and nursery plants. The work is outdoors, physical and paid by the hour or by piece rate.

Main regions and crops

California leads for strawberries, leafy greens, grapes and citrus. Washington State is the top producer of apples and sweet cherries. Florida and Georgia supply winter vegetables, citrus and blueberries, while North Carolina, Michigan and New York complete the map of hiring hotspots.

• Florida and Georgia: vegetables and citrus from November to May, blueberries from April to June.
• California: strawberries from March to October, wine and table grapes from August to October.
• Washington and Oregon: cherries in June and July, apples and pears from August to November.
• Michigan, New York and New England: apples, tart cherries and vegetables from July to October.
• North Carolina and Kentucky: tobacco, sweet potatoes and vegetables from May to October.

A typical day in the orchards

Days usually start around 6 a.m. to avoid the afternoon heat. Pickers carry a bag or bucket, climb ladders in orchards and empty their harvest into bins counted by a crew leader. Breaks are short, the pace is fast and weekend work is common.

Who are the employers?

Hiring is done by family farms, large fruit companies, cooperatives and farm labor contractors, who must be registered with the Department of Labor. A growing share of jobs is filled by H-2A workers recruited mainly in Mexico, Central America and South Africa through licensed agents.

Who can legally work on US harvests?

Foreign nationals can never pick crops while visiting under ESTA or a B-2 tourist visa. The only suitable route is the H-2A visa, a nonimmigrant status for temporary or seasonal farm work that the employer, not the worker, must request.

How the H-2A visa works

The employer first obtains a temporary labor certification from the Department of Labor, proving no US workers are available. It then files Form I-129 with USCIS. Finally, the worker attends an interview at a US consulate in his or her home country.

Caps, duration and eligible countries

Unlike H-2B, the H-2A category has no annual cap. Stay length follows the contract, with a cumulative maximum of three years, after which the worker must spend at least three months abroad. Applicants must hold the nationality of a country on the DHS eligibility list.

Students and young Europeans

The J-1 Summer Work Travel program does not cover field agriculture; it targets tourism and hospitality jobs. For a young European, legal fruit picking therefore depends on finding a farm willing to file an H-2A petition, which remains uncommon outside Mexico and Central America.

Pay and working conditions in 2026

The federal minimum wage remains $7.25 an hour since 24 July 2009, but it rarely applies to H-2A jobs. Employers must pay the highest of that minimum, the state minimum, the local prevailing wage and the Adverse Effect Wage Rate, known as AEWR.

AEWR and piece-rate pay

The Department of Labor published the 2026-2027 AEWRs, effective 3 August 2026, and they vary by state and job category. Piece rates per box, bucket or bin are allowed, provided total weekly earnings reach at least the guaranteed hourly rate for every hour worked.

Overtime and the three-fourths guarantee

The Fair Labor Standards Act exempts most agricultural jobs from overtime pay, although states such as California and New York now require it. The H-2A contract nevertheless guarantees pay for at least three quarters of the hours promised over the contract period.

Housing, meals and transport

Employers must provide free housing that meets safety standards, plus daily transport between housing and fields. They must offer either equipped kitchens or three meals a day at a capped price. Return travel is paid when the worker completes the contract.

How do you get a harvest job in the USA?

Everything starts with a real job offer, because only an employer can launch the H-2A process. Certified job orders are public, so applicants can check the employer, dates, wage and housing address before committing to anything or paying for travel.

1. Check that your nationality is on the H-2A eligible countries list.
2. Browse H-2A job orders on the Department of Labor SeasonalJobs portal by state and crop.
3. Contact the employer or its agent listed in the recruitment section of the job order.
4. Obtain a written offer and wait for USCIS to approve the I-129 petition.
5. Complete Form DS-160 and book a consular appointment.
6. Attend the interview with passport, contract and approval notice.
7. Keep travel and visa receipts for reimbursement after arrival.

Mistakes and scams to avoid

Farm recruitment attracts dishonest intermediaries, especially on social media. H-2A rules forbid charging workers any recruitment fee, so any request for money to secure a job, a petition or an interview slot should be treated as a serious warning sign.

• Paying a recruiter to reserve a place on an American farm.
• Arriving on ESTA and hoping to switch status locally, which is not allowed.
• Handing your passport to a crew leader or labor contractor.
• Signing a contract without dates, housing address or hourly rate.
• Forgetting that abandoning the job forfeits return travel and legal status.

Can a European pick fruit on an ESTA?

No. ESTA and the B-2 visa prohibit any paid activity, including cash-in-hand or in-kind work. Being caught can lead to removal and a long re-entry ban. Only a work visa such as H-2A authorises harvest jobs on American farms.

How much does an H-2A picker earn per month?

With 40 to 50 hours a week and an AEWR generally between about $15 and $20 depending on the state, a full month often brings $2,500 to $4,000 gross, with housing free of charge. Federal income tax is still due.

Can H-2A workers change employers?

The visa is tied to the petitioning employer. A new H-2A employer must file its own petition, and under certain conditions work can begin once that petition is filed. Leaving the job without a new petition ends lawful status quickly.

Is English required for harvest jobs?

It is not a general requirement for picking, and many crew leaders speak Spanish. Basic English or Spanish still helps with safety instructions, understanding pay stubs and raising problems with supervisors or the Wage and Hour Division if needed.

When is the best time to apply?

Employers file certification requests 60 to 75 days before the start date. For a June cherry harvest, job orders therefore appear from March or April. Applying three to four months ahead leaves time for petitions and consular appointments.