Magnus32Seasonal farm work is one of the fastest ways to get paid work experience in Canada without needing a degree or years of training. Fruit picking roles usually mean hands-on harvesting of apples, cherries, berries, peaches, grapes, and other soft fruit. The work is outdoors, repetitive, and time-based, with early starts and long days during peak harvest.
For many international workers, the big draw is that some employers sponsor a work permit when they can’t fill roles locally. In Canada, that typically happens through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) with an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment). Depending on the role, employer, and eligibility, a farm may also hire through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) for approved countries. This list focuses on where hiring is active and how to apply through channels farms actually use, without relying on risky middlemen.
Understanding fruit picking jobs in Canada (what the work really looks like)
Fruit picking is paid manual labor tied to harvest windows. Most jobs involve picking into buckets or bins, sorting for quality, and moving filled containers to collection points. Some farms add packing-house shifts, which can suit workers who want steadier indoor hours.
Seasons vary by province and crop, but most harvest contracts run about 6 to 8 weeks per crop, and longer if the employer grows multiple fruits. Expect lots of standing, bending, lifting, and working in sun or light rain. Speed matters, but so does care, since bruised fruit can reduce pay or slow the line.
Why Canada for fruit picking with visa sponsorship
Canadian farms hire seasonal help because harvest can’t wait. When local labor isn’t enough, employers can request permission to hire temporary foreign workers, which opens the door to fruit picking jobs with visa sponsorship in Canada for qualified applicants.
Pay is often set at a provincial hourly wage for agricultural work, with many listings clustering around CAD 15 to 20 per hour for seasonal picker roles (varies by province and posting). Some employers also offer piece-rate pay for certain crops, where your earnings depend on volume and quality. Housing support is common in agriculture, though it depends on the employer and the specific work site.
Visa sponsorship basics (what “sponsored” usually means)
In most cases, “visa sponsorship” for fruit picking means an employer is willing to support a work permit application after they complete the required steps. Under the TFWP, many farms must secure a positive LMIA before the worker can apply for a work permit. Under SAWP, the process is arranged through participating governments and approved employers, and it’s limited to specific countries.
This framework is managed through federal programs and systems. Key references include Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for work permit rules, and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) for LMIA requirements and employer compliance (IRCC; ESDC). Job availability is also reflected through Government of Canada Job Bank postings, which regularly show large volumes of seasonal agriculture roles during peak months (Job Bank).
Peak seasons by fruit type (planning your timing)
Timing matters because farms hire in waves. Dates shift by weather and region, but these ranges are typical across major fruit provinces:
- Strawberries: May to July
- Cherries: June to August
- Blueberries: July to September
- Peaches and other stone fruit: July to September
- Apples: August to October
- Grapes (wine regions): September to October
Some farms stagger hiring, bringing workers in for thinning, then harvest, then packing. Others hire for one intense window and finish fast.
1. BC Tree Fruits Cooperative (British Columbia, Okanagan and surrounding areas)
BC Tree Fruits Cooperative is one of the best-known fruit organizations in British Columbia’s interior, tied to a region that produces apples, cherries, peaches, and other tree fruit. When harvest ramps up, affiliated orchards and facilities often need seasonal workers across picking and handling tasks, depending on the site.
What you’re likely to see in roles: tree-fruit picking, orchard labor, bin handling, sorting or packing support in some operations.
Sponsorship notes: some employers in this category may hire through the TFWP with LMIA support when shortages hit, depending on the season and location.
Where to apply: check the employer’s official careers or hiring page and match your dates to their harvest windows, then apply directly through their listed application method (site form or HR email, depending on the posting).
2. La Ferme Vieille-Grange (Quebec, Danville area)
La Ferme Vieille-Grange is a named employer that appears in current hiring channels for seasonal farm roles in Quebec. Quebec seasonal fruit work often centers on berries and apples, with hiring demand rising mid-summer through fall.
What you’re likely to see in roles: berry picking, orchard work, basic sorting, and general farm labor tied to harvest.
Sponsorship notes: some Quebec farms support TFWP hiring when they can’t source enough local workers, and the exact support depends on the job offer and LMIA status.
Where to apply: use the employer’s official contact method listed on their hiring or contact page, or apply through their posting on a government or reputable job board when available. Apply with a short resume, your availability window, and confirmation you can do outdoor physical work.
3. Okanagan Valley cherry and stone-fruit orchards (British Columbia, multiple employers)
The Okanagan is one of Canada’s busiest seasonal fruit corridors. During cherry and stone-fruit peaks, farms often post urgent openings because ripe fruit must be picked quickly. Many employers in this region hire in teams and keep hiring active until the crop is off the trees.
What you’re likely to see in roles: cherry picking, ladder work for some varieties, orchard cleanup, and bin moves.
Sponsorship notes: some employers sponsor through the TFWP when local hiring falls short, and LMIA timing can affect start dates.
Where to apply: use Government of Canada Job Bank and search terms like “fruit picker,” “orchard worker,” and “harvest worker,” then filter by British Columbia and your preferred city or region. Apply through the Job Bank posting method (online application, email, or employer ATS), based on what the listing requires.
4. Niagara Region orchards and tender-fruit farms (Ontario, multiple employers)
Niagara is a high-output fruit region with peaches, cherries, apples, and grapes. Hiring tends to surge in mid-summer for tender fruit, then shifts toward apples and grapes later in the season. Some farms also run packing lines, which can extend the work period.
What you’re likely to see in roles: peach picking, apple picking, grading, and packing-house support depending on the employer.
Sponsorship notes: some employers in Ontario use LMIA-backed hiring under the TFWP when they can’t fill harvest crews locally.
Where to apply: search seasonal agriculture postings on Job Bank and reputable job boards, and prioritize postings that clearly state the employer is “willing to hire foreign workers” or references LMIA support. Apply directly to the employer listed on the posting.
5. Annapolis Valley apple orchards (Nova Scotia, multiple employers)
Nova Scotia’s Annapolis Valley is strongly associated with apples, and harvest demand can rise fast as fall approaches. Many operations need pickers, ladder workers, and bin support to keep up with ripeness and weather windows.
What you’re likely to see in roles: apple picking, orchard labor, sorting and handling, and end-of-season cleanup.
Sponsorship notes: some employers may support foreign workers through the TFWP when they show a labor shortage, but it depends on the employer’s approvals and timing.
Where to apply: use Job Bank to find active employer postings in Nova Scotia and apply using the method specified in each listing. Keep your availability dates clear because many Nova Scotia roles are tightly tied to late-summer and fall harvest.
6. Quebec blueberry and mixed-berry farms (Eastern Quebec, multiple employers)
Quebec has strong seasonal demand for berry harvesting, especially blueberries. Work can be fast-paced because soft fruit requires careful handling and quick collection to meet quality standards.
What you’re likely to see in roles: blueberry picking, sorting, field support, and occasional packing tasks.
Sponsorship notes: some berry farms sponsor via TFWP when hiring locally doesn’t cover peak demand, and French can be a plus in certain communities, depending on the team and supervisor.
Where to apply: find berry harvest postings through Job Bank and apply straight to the employer. If the listing includes an email application, send a simple message with your start date, end date, and readiness for outdoor work.
7. Ontario grape and apple operations (wine and orchard zones, multiple employers)
Ontario’s grape harvest and late-season apple picking can create a longer work run for workers who time it right. Grape work can involve vineyard picking and lug carrying, while apple work returns to orchard ladders, bins, and careful sorting.
What you’re likely to see in roles: grape picking, vineyard labor, apple picking, and packing roles where offered.
Sponsorship notes: some employers may sponsor, depending on role type, harvest length, and LMIA approvals.
Where to apply: search Job Bank for “vineyard worker,” “grape picker,” and “apple picker” in Ontario. Apply through the posting instructions and keep documents ready so you can respond quickly if shortlisted.
8. Alberta berry and cherry farms (rural Alberta, multiple employers)
Alberta has seasonal fruit pockets that hire for berries and some tree fruit, with roles often concentrated in rural areas. These employers may be smaller, so postings can fill quickly once harvest starts.
What you’re likely to see in roles: berry picking, field maintenance, basic packing, and general farm labor.
Sponsorship notes: some rural employers sponsor when they can’t fill positions locally, but the availability of sponsorship depends on the employer’s ability to complete the required program steps.
Where to apply: focus on Job Bank postings with Alberta locations and agriculture keywords. Apply directly to the hiring employer and follow the posting exactly, especially when it asks for subject lines, forms, or specific details.
9. Mixed-fruit farms with multiple harvest cycles (BC, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia)
Some of the best earning potential in seasonal fruit work comes from mixed-fruit operations that run more than one harvest. These employers may need workers for strawberries early, then raspberries or blueberries, then apples or grapes later.
What you’re likely to see in roles: rotating harvest tasks, packing shifts, farmstand support in some cases, and general labor between crops.
Sponsorship notes: mixed operations are more likely to offer longer contracts, and some employers sponsor to keep crews stable across multiple harvest windows.
Where to apply: use Job Bank and filter by longer contract length when available. Read duties carefully since “harvest worker” can mean field picking, packing, or both.
10. Packing and sorting employers tied to orchards (fruit handling roles that can extend the season)
Not all harvest jobs are only picking. Many fruit regions also hire seasonal workers for packing, sorting, grading, and warehouse handling tied to orchard outputs. These roles can be attractive when outdoor picking slows, and they can add weeks to a seasonal contract depending on throughput.
What you’re likely to see in roles: sorting lines, packing cartons, quality checks, palletizing, and basic sanitation tasks.
Sponsorship notes: some employers sponsor for these roles under the TFWP when they have consistent seasonal demand and can’t fill locally.
Where to apply: search Job Bank for “fruit packer,” “produce packer,” “sorting,” and “grading” in fruit-heavy regions (Okanagan, Niagara, Annapolis Valley, and Quebec berry areas), then apply through the listed employer method.
How to apply (where to apply, what to submit, what happens next)
Most legitimate hiring for fruit picking jobs with visa sponsorship in Canada starts with an employer job posting and a direct application. The most common reputable channel is the Government of Canada Job Bank, where employers list duties, wage, location, and how to apply. Job boards can also show listings, but the safest path is still applying to the employer shown on the official posting and confirming the business details match.
A typical application package is simple: a short resume with your work history, your availability dates, your location, and confirmation you’re ready for physical outdoor work. If selected, the employer may move forward with LMIA steps under the TFWP (when required), then you apply for the work permit through IRCC using the job offer details and the LMIA information, if applicable (IRCC; ESDC). Job volumes and seasonal demand are also reflected in Job Bank agriculture postings during peak harvest periods (Job Bank).
Conclusion
Seasonal harvest work is one of the most active entry points for overseas workers who want Canadian experience, quick start dates, and clear job duties. The strongest demand clusters around fruit-heavy regions in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, and parts of Alberta, with cherries and berries peaking in summer and apples taking over into fall.
If you want fruit picking jobs with visa sponsorship in Canada, focus on employers and postings that clearly describe the work, show transparent pay and location details, and tell you exactly how to apply. Some employers sponsor, but it depends on role, employer, and eligibility, plus timing around approvals and harvest needs.
Visa sponsorship, salary ranges, and requirements vary by employer, location, and your qualifications. This article is general information, not legal advice. Always verify requirements on official government sites and with the hiring employer.
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