The Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers’ Association (OFVGA) is sharing the latest on the More than a Migrant Worker (MTAMW) initiative and other supports for the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. 

Advertisement in LCBO’s Food and Drink Magazine

An advertisement about workers in the grape sector is in the Spring edition of Food and Drink Magazine, available at the LCBO. The ad is titled: “Behind every glass of Ontario wine, there’s an incredible story.” The copy refers to the more than 20,000 workers who come every year to work on Ontario’s fruit and vegetable farms. 

Outreach to MPPs

Following the recent Ontario election and the appointment of several new MPPs,  OFVGA sent a MTAMW update letter to all MPPs – both to introduce them to the initiative (if they’re not already familiar) and to offer opportunities for follow-up conversations. The same approach will be taken with Ontario’s newly elected MPs in the near future. In the past, similar work has resulted in many meetings and introductions with several elected officials.

News articles

Several articles about the initiative have been picked up by major publications such as MSN. Each one reports an estimated audience of 411,000. This is the MSN news feed that shows up on Windows computers. One article talks about some of the lesser known commodities that can be grown in Ontario such as sweet potatoes, watermelons and ginseng. Here’s the link: https://www.msn.com/en-ca/foodanddrink/foodnews/fruits-and-vegetables-you-didn-t-know-could-be-grown-in-ontario/ar-AA1CthBH

Welcome kits at airport

Once again, in partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness, OFVGA is procuring welcome kits to be handed out to farm workers arriving at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. Included in these kits are important resources for workers, but also comfort snacks and useful tools such as safety kits.

 

Source:  Ontario Fruit & Vegetable Growers’ Association May 1, 2025 newsletter