About BC Fruit Works

BC Fruit Works is a collaborative initiative between the BC Cherry Association, BC Fruit Grower’s Association, BC Grapegrowers’ Association, BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The program is designed to entice Canadians to work in British Columbia orchards and vineyards as Branch Hands (seasonal agricultural workers) to enhance the availability of locally-grown produce, support the Canadian farming community, and make it easier for growers to find and hire Canadian farm workers.

The intent of this program is to be the future for hiring Canadians to work in BC orchards, connecting growers with summer job seekers.

BC Fruit Works Roadmap

2022:

  • Launch of BC Fruit Works pilot program in the summer.
  • Collaboration agreements formalized with BC Cherry Association, BC Fruit Grower’s Association, BC Grape Growers’ Association, BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food.
  • Recruitment drive for farm workers begins.

2023:

  • Expansion of outreach efforts to attract more Canadian job seekers.
  • Due to the initial success, there was a full-scale launch in February 2023 for job matching.
  • Mid-season check-ins to assess progress and address any issues.

2024:

  • Announcement of changes in communication and engagement strategies.
  • Exploration of new avenues to enhance engagement and communication.
  • Emphasis on quality of hire and placement through thorough check-ins and feedback mechanisms.

A few words from the people who made it happen:

BC Fruit Works is part of our government’s Tree Fruit Industry Stabilization initiative as we look at ways to coordinate various agencies through an industry labour strategy. This collaborative approach is strengthening the B.C. tree-fruit and wine sector, and ensuring their delicious and high-quality products will continue to get into the hands of consumers this summer and in the future.

Lana Popham, former BC Minister of Agriculture and Food

The BC Fruit Works program has the potential to shift our fruit industries into a more organized, collaborative unit, ensuring more efficient communication and feedback on the casual workforce that we require to operate as a successful industry. It’s a much-needed step toward stabilizing our labour issues throughout all fruit sectors.

John Bayley, Former President, BC Grapegrowers’ Association

The new BC Fruit Works program represents the future for hiring Canadians to work in B.C. orchards. It includes an app that is elegant and simple to use for both growers and people looking for summer work picking fruit in the Okanagan sunshine.

Sukhpaul Bal, President, BC Cherry Association

The BCFGA is happy to be included in the creation and implementation of this project as the representatives of fruit growers across the province. BC Fruit Works had a dedicated team of creative and energetic people working on this project, and I am looking forward to seeing how it builds and grows now that it is being used within the industry.

Annelise Simonsen, Director, BC Fruit Growers’ Association (BCFGA)

BC Fruit Works is one of many examples where the Ministry of Agriculture and Food has been strongly supporting the tree-fruit industry in B.C. Access to labour to grow the highest quality fruit possible is critical for growers, and, based on early indicators, BC Fruit Works is enabling both growers and Branch Hands to easily and efficiently connect. We strongly encourage growers and potential Branch Hands to try this tool as it will make a meaningful difference for all industry stakeholders.

Warren Sarafinchan, Former CEO, BC Tree Fruits Cooperative

Sign up here to register as a farm worker!

Sign up here to register as an employer!

Farm Workers         Producers/Employers         FAQs         About Us

BC Fruit Works
Tel: (250) 859-2877
info@BCFruitWorks.com

Funding Acknowledgement

Funding Provided By:

The Government of British Columbia and the Investment Agriculture Foundation of BC are pleased to participate in the delivery of this website.  We are committed to working with our industry partners to address issues of importance to the agriculture and agri-food industry in British Columbia. Opinions expressed in this website are those of BC Fruit Works and not necessarily those of the Investment Agriculture Foundation or the Government of British Columbia.

Collaborating organizations

BC Fruit Works is a collaborative initiative between the BC Cherry Association, BC Fruit Growers’ Association, BC Grapegrowers’
Association, BC Tree Fruits Cooperative, and the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

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