Vegetable harvest jobs in Canada: seasonal field and greenhouse work

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What does a vegetable farm worker do in Canada?

Seasonal workers transplant seedlings in spring, weed, set up irrigation, then harvest lettuce, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, onions, celery, squash or sweet corn. They cut, sort, box and load trailers, often walking behind a harvesting rig that sets the pace for the whole crew.

Greenhouse work is steadier: pruning and training tomato, cucumber and pepper plants, daily picking and packing. Large greenhouse complexes run almost all year, so some contracts last ten months rather than a single summer season, with more predictable weekly hours.

Many farms also pack on site, so field workers may spend rainy days washing, trimming and boxing vegetables in the packing shed. This flexibility keeps weekly hours more stable and gives a first experience of food safety procedures valued by employers.

Main vegetable-growing regions

Quebec farms the black soils of Montérégie, around Sherrington and Napierville, for lettuce, onions and carrots. Ontario has the Holland Marsh north of Toronto and the Leamington greenhouse cluster. British Columbia grows vegetables and berries in the Fraser Valley east of Vancouver.

A typical season month by month

Seeding and planting begin in April and May, weeding dominates June, leafy greens are harvested from June to October, and carrots, onions and squash are lifted from August to November. Prince Edward Island potatoes are dug in September and October.

A sector reliant on foreign labour

Large vegetable farms in Quebec and Ontario employ many Mexican and Guatemalan workers every year. Job Bank postings for harvesting labourers cover both fruit and vegetables under occupation code NOC 85101, so the same search shows field vegetable vacancies too.

Access rules for foreign candidates

Without Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, a work permit is required. The open permit from International Experience Canada allows vegetable farm work without a prior job offer; French citizens qualify from 18 to 35 for up to 24 months, Belgians from 18 to 30.

The open permit brings real flexibility: moving from a lettuce farm in June to a squash harvest in October, or combining vegetable work with apple picking. Candidates must still be drawn from the IEC pools, whose opening dates and invitation rounds differ by country.

SAWP and the agricultural stream

SAWP covers only Mexico and participating Caribbean countries, with contracts of up to eight months between January and December 15. The agricultural stream of the TFWP accepts all nationalities for production listed on the national commodities list, through a Labour Market Impact Assessment.

What employers must guarantee

Pay must equal that of Canadian workers in the same job and never fall below the provincial minimum or the agricultural wage tables. Employers pay for all hours, provide workplace safety insurance and may not keep a worker's passport or other identity papers.

Quebec specifics

Quebec employers use a wage table published by the provincial immigration ministry. Most employer-specific permits there also require a Quebec Acceptance Certificate, from which International Experience Canada participants are exempt, making Quebec a practical first stop for working holiday makers.

Pay, hours and housing

Vegetable work is mostly paid by the hour. The minimum is CAD 16.60 in Quebec since May 1, 2026, CAD 17.95 in Ontario since October 1, 2026, and CAD 18.25 in British Columbia since June 1, 2026.

Step-by-step route to a vegetable farm job

1. Check eligibility for IEC or an agricultural employer-specific permit.
2. Target a region: Montérégie, Holland Marsh, Leamington or the Fraser Valley.
3. Search Job Bank for harvesting labourer vacancies.
4. Email vegetable farms and greenhouses in the chosen region directly.
5. Insist on a contract stating hourly rate, hours and housing.
6. Arrange transport, as farms are far from towns and transit.
7. Get a Social Insurance Number and open a Canadian bank account.

Pitfalls and common mistakes

• Paying for a job promise tied to an LMIA file.
• Underestimating bent-over work on muddy black soils in the rain.
• Arriving in August when most crews are already complete.
• Working without pay stubs showing hours and deductions.
• Mistaking a greenhouse closed permit for a right to work elsewhere.

Workers on employer-specific permits facing abuse can apply to IRCC for an open work permit for vulnerable workers, and any employee may file a complaint with the provincial employment standards office, which prohibits reprisals against workers who assert their rights.

Greenhouse or open field?

Greenhouses offer stable schedules, shelter from weather and a long season, but high heat and humidity. Field work brings irregular weeks that depend on rain, with peaks of long days and extra hours towards the end of the harvest season.

Vegetable farm work in Canada: FAQ

The answers below summarise the practical questions international candidates ask most often; the amounts quoted are the provincial rates in force in autumn 2026 and usually change every year, so they should be checked again before signing.

Is previous farm experience required?

Not for most harvesting and weeding jobs. Employers value stamina, punctuality and availability for the whole season. A driving licence or tractor experience opens better-paid positions, such as driving harvest wagons or operating packing line equipment.

Can I work in a greenhouse in winter?

Yes. Greenhouses in Leamington and Quebec produce tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers almost all year and also hire for packing. An open IEC permit lets you move there after a summer season in the fields without a new application.

Is overtime paid at a higher rate?

Not always. Several provinces exempt farm workers from standard overtime premiums. Read the contract and provincial rules carefully before calculating income on the basis of 60-hour weeks, especially for field harvesting where hours vary widely.

Where to stay near the farms

Farms employing SAWP workers provide inspected shared housing. Working holiday makers often need a room in a nearby village; Saint-Rémi, Bradford and Leamington have few rentals, so housing should be booked before arriving in the region.