Apple grower Robert Shuh is the new president of the organization that manages the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) in Ontario. He was elected as president of Foreign Agricultural Resource Management Services (FARMS) at the organization’s recent annual meeting and takes over from outgoing president Ken Forth.

“This organization is tremendously important to all those commodities in agriculture who depend on seasonal labour, providing an invaluable service to employers in helping them navigate everything from the application process to arranging worker transportation,” says Shuh. “FARMS also works closely with other industry organizations as an advocate to government on behalf of temporary and seasonal worker programs in agriculture.”

Shuh farms with his wife, Lisa, near Elmira where Shuh Orchards grows apples on approximately 50 acres. They have four children, and their son Tim will be joining the family farm ownership officially this year.

Shuh, who holds an MBA in Agriculture Business from the University of Guelph, joined FARMS as a director in 2024 and is also a board member with the Ontario Apple Growers. He is a long-time board member and past president at Mennonite Economic Development Associates Canada, and is also the current chair of MiCrédito, an organization that provides microfinance services throughout Central America. The family lived in Nicaragua when Shuh worked in economic development for the sesame seed industry in that country.

FARMS was formed in 1987 to manage the administration of SAWP. This includes looking after transportation of workers to and from Canada, negotiating their terms and conditions of employment with both the Canadian and host governments, as well as any other issues that could affect the continued success and longevity of the program.

Approximately 20,000 workers come to Canada every year through SAWP to work on fruit and vegetable farms, mostly in Ontario, where they are an invaluable and indispensable part of the horticulture food supply chain.

“As an organization, our priorities include responding to and influencing the next iteration of temporary foreign worker programs currently in development by the federal government, and together with our partners, we will continue to represent agricultural employers with excellence,” adds Shuh. “We appreciate the long-time contributions by Ken Forth to FARMS and to this industry and we wish him well in the next endeavours he will undertake.”

Shuh and FARMS vice president Andy Vergeer, a tobacco grower, will be sharing the duties of representing the organization on external boards, committees and organizations.

Source:  FARMS March 6, 2025 news release