2010-04-29
CBC
N.B. farmer Mike Slocum can't find local help, so he is applying to bring migrant workers from Jamaica.
CBC News
N.B. farmer Mike Slocum can't find local help, so he is applying to bring migrant workers from Jamaica.
Slocum, who operates one of only two farms left in the Waterborough area, has a regular crew of 24 workers who return every spring. He doesn't have enough workers to run shifts when demand is high.
His farm grows berries, corn, potatoes and tomatoes. Everything but the potatoes must be harvested by hand.
It was an information session with Agricultural Alliance of NB about migrant workers that caught Slocum's attention.
"If the seasonal worker program can help even out that workload, then that's an option [that] will hopefully fit very well in our farm," he said.
"We're hoping to take that panic out of it."
The agricultural alliance took action after realizing that Nova Scotia brought in 700 migrant workers last year, P.E.I., 150, and New Brunswick only around 40. The alliance decided to spread the word that these other provinces were getting the competitive advantage of a reliable workforce, said alliance spokesperson Charline McCoy.
Slocum must qualify, have his farm inspected, pay minimum wage and pay for housing, a work visa and airfare.
The program also allows for sharing of workers with other registered farms. That means if berry producers finish their peak season, and vegetable producers are entering theirs, they can share workers and cost.
New Brunswick farmers face such a short growing season that it's important to get things done when they need to be done and not just when the help can be found, Slocum said.
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