Welcome to our eighth edition.
This newsletter brings together two worlds that have more in common than most people realize.
In rural Honduras, there are farming communities full of people who have worked the land their whole lives, growers who know their crops, take pride in their work, and are looking for opportunities that simply aren't available at home. In Southern Ontario, greenhouse and farm operations are looking for exactly that kind of worker, reliable, experienced, and genuinely committed to the job.
The Mayan Greenhouse Connection exists because Maya Maple Connect believes that relationship is worth building carefully, and worth communicating clearly. We are Honduran owned and Honduran run, and we care deeply about the people we work with on both sides.
This newsletter is part of how we stay connected with the farms and communities we serve. If you're planning for next season or facing gaps right now, let's talk.
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Worker Story: Carlos
When Carlos came to Canada, his goal was simple: work hard and build a better life for his family.
Back in Honduras, he worked in agriculture in 2010 and later at the National Registry of Persons. Coming to Canada meant starting over. He didn't mind. He was ready to learn.
He started at the bottom, doing a bit of everything. He kept showing up and kept learning. Today, Carlos is a supervisor, and we couldn't be prouder.
He has also looked after the Honduras program through the years, and it's a big part of why it has grown. He never did it for recognition. He did it because he wanted things to go well for the people coming after him. 👏
English was one of his hardest challenges. He took the exam several times, and it wasn't easy. But he kept trying, and one day he passed.
That day meant much more than a test result. It meant he could finally bring his wife and two daughters to Canada, through the Agri-Food Pilot.
And today, his family is here with him. ❤️
When they arrived, none of them spoke English. Less than a year later, they've learned so much and are making a home in their new community.
For Carlos, this is what it was all about: having his family close and watching his daughters grow, as well as return to the program encouraging others to be better and apply for programs.
Sometimes the best reward for years of hard work isn't a promotion or a bigger paycheck. It's having your family at the table with you.
Carlos, thank you. Thank you for never giving up, for taking care of the Honduras program, and for showing us why these opportunities matter. You make Honduras proud. 🇭🇳
At Maya Maple Connect, we're proud to be part of journeys like yours. Every worker has a story, and every story deserves to be told. 🇭🇳🇨🇦❤️
If you are interested in hiring workers similar to Carlos, please reach out to [email protected].
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SOUTHERN ONTARIO FARMING
A quieter couple of weeks for Southern Ontario greenhouse news, but two stories show what the sector looks like beyond production.
• Leamington hosted the 5th annual Greenhouse Cup, with Hacienda North taking home the 2026 title. The tournament celebrates sport, community, and the contributions of international agricultural workers to the greenhouse sector. Read more ->
• Syngenta's Honeywood Research Facility has redirected surplus research crops to Food Banks Canada, showing how controlled environment production capacity can help address food security beyond commercial markets. Read more ->
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GREENHOUSE INDUSTRY
Ontario growers face shifting regulatory requirements and new pest management tools heading into fall production.
• OMAFA has appointed Kyle Hendricks as acting greenhouse floriculture specialist. Hendricks brings research experience from Vineland in greenhouse production and plant health, positioning him as a key resource for growers navigating production challenges and regulatory changes in the province. Read more ->
• Canada and the U.S. have updated rose export rules in response to pest risk concerns. The latest guidance from CFIA removes the need for pest modules, simplifying compliance for growers shipping across the border. Read more ->
• Nufarm's OpteraPro DUO insecticides have received EPA registration, offering dual action control for both surface and subsurface pests on ornamental crops. The new tool expands biological and chemical options for growers managing integrated pest management programs. Read more ->
• Ball Seed has released guidance on maximizing late season poinsettia height before shipping. With holiday deadlines approaching, implementing these strategies now can improve crop quality and marketability for this critical sales window. Read more ->
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HONDURAS SPOTLIGHT: INTIBUCA
About Intibuca
Intibuca is a mountainous department in western Honduras centered on La Esperanza, one of the country's highest settlements. Its cool, temperate climate at elevation makes it ideal for potatoes and cool season vegetables including cabbage, carrots, lettuce, and broccoli, alongside coffee production on lower slopes. The region is predominantly smallholder family farms with a significant Indigenous Lenca population. Workers from Intibuca are known for their experience in labour intensive vegetable production.
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In the News
• La Reserva de ¡Tierra! Selection offers certified regenerative agriculture certification for coffee producers, providing market differentiation and sustainability credentials for farms seeking premium positioning in specialty coffee markets. Read more ->
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UPCOMING EVENTS
Canadian Greenhouse Conference
October 7 and 8, 2026 | Niagara Falls Convention Centre, Niagara Falls, Ontario
The largest gathering of commercial growers in the country, covering flowers, vegetables, berries, and nursery crops. This year's program includes 82,000 square feet of trade show floor, national and international speakers, a new variety showcase, and research poster presentations.
Also on the schedule: a bus tour in Leamington on October 6, a networking happy hour on October 7, and student day programming on October 8.
Registration is open. Exhibit space for 2026 is sold out, so plan to attend rather than exhibit this year.
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From the Team
Filling seasonal labour through TFWP takes planning. The operations that secure the workers they need, on time, fully compliant, already prepared for greenhouse work, are the ones that start the conversation early.
Most recruitment firms source from many countries at once. Maya Maple Connect does one thing. We recruit from Honduras, and only from Honduras. We are a boutique firm, Honduran owned and Honduran run, built by people who have spent over 10 years recruiting from Honduran farming communities for Canadian greenhouses.
That focus is the whole point. Because we work in a single country, we know its regions, we know its farming communities, and in most cases we know the workers personally. We are not filling a quota from whichever labour pool is easiest to reach this season. We select from a country we understand deeply, which means the candidates who reach you are the strongest ones available, not simply the ones who happened to be at hand. A firm recruiting across a dozen countries cannot say the same.
What we handle: Candidate sourcing, TFWP documentation, compliance review, and worker onboarding. By the time someone arrives at your operation, the paperwork is done and they know what to expect.
What you do: Review candidates, approve placements, and focus on your season.
If you're planning for an upcoming season or dealing with a gap right now, book a 15-minute call with our team, we'll tell you exactly what's available and what the process looks like.
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Labour & Policy News
• Program uncertainty affecting operations: Maclean's feature highlights farm operators' concerns about the sustainability and future policy direction of foreign worker programs; securing your labour pipeline requires staying informed on regulatory changes that could impact your workforce planning. Read more ->
• Worker financial access: Caribbean National Weekly reports on loans now available to Jamaican farmworkers in Canada, addressing cash flow challenges that can affect retention and worker stability during the season. Read more ->