Issue #7 | September 21, 2026
Welcome to our seventh 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: Darwin
When Darwin Alonzo came to Canada from Francisco Morazán, Honduras, two years ago, he already had a plan in his heart.
He had a Goal…..
Back home, Darwin worked in agricultural jobs and construction whenever work was available. The money was not much ($9 in agriculture and $12 in construction a Day) , but he was determined to build a home.
And he really did build it from the ground up.
In his free time in his time in honduras, he made his own adobe bricks, digging the earth and working the mud little by little. At one point, heavy rain destroyed about 600 bricks he had already made.
So he made them again.
When Darwin came to Canada, his house was still unfinished. Today, as he approaches the end of his first work contract, he has been able to continue building and improving it. What was once only a piece of land and the beginning of a house is now becoming a real home, with two hallways, ceramic and much more still to come.
But Darwin didn’t stop with his house.
Back in his community, he also opened a small pulpería a neighborhood grocery store where local families can buy everyday food and household essentials.
He also purchased a corn mill, creating another source of income and helping people in his community at the same time.
What started as a way to support his own family has also become a way to create opportunities for others.
In Canada, Darwin has taken on more responsibilities at work, lives with Mexican coworkers and encourages other Honduran workers to stay focused, follow the rules and make the most of their opportunity.
But when he talks about the future, his biggest motivation is still his children.
He wants them to study, have a profession and have choices in life.
Darwin’s story is a reminder that sometimes a big dream starts with something very small:
A piece of land.
A handful of earth.
One adobe brick.
One small neighborhood store.
And then, one day, you look back and realize how far you’ve come.
🇭🇳🤝🇨🇦
#MayaMapleConnect #Honduras #Canada #BuildingDreams #Family #Community #NewOpportunities
Read Darwin's full story at mayangreenhouseconnection.fyi
If you are interested in hiring workers similar to Darwin, please reach out to [email protected].
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SOUTHERN ONTARIO FARMING
Rising input costs continue to pressure Southern Ontario horticultural operations as operators assess their cost structure and financing options.
• Fuel costs are climbing across the region, adding pressure to already elevated input expenses for greenhouse and farm operations. Energy represents a significant line item for controlled environment agriculture, making price volatility a critical monitoring point. Read more ->
• A $1 billion federal agricultural financing fund has been announced to help mid-sized producers scale operations. The fund targets a financing gap for businesses looking to expand capacity or invest in infrastructure, potentially relevant for greenhouse operators planning equipment upgrades or facility expansion. Read more ->
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GREENHOUSE INDUSTRY
Federal funding is flowing toward controlled environment agriculture in Ontario, while operators should prepare for supply chain volatility and strategic consolidation opportunities.
• Kinghaven Farms in King City secured $5 million in AgriInnovate funding to advance controlled environment technologies. This federal support signals growing investment in local CEA infrastructure and suggests government backing for operators pursuing automation and innovation upgrades. Read more ->
• The peat moss growing media market is forecast to expand through 2035, driven by greenhouse horticulture demand. If you're sourcing substrate and other inputs, now is the time to lock in reliable suppliers and evaluate long term cost projections. Read more ->
• BFG Supply's bankruptcy filing is a wake up call to evaluate your supply chain resilience, understand your operating costs, and build financial flexibility. Diversifying suppliers and maintaining operational data will protect you from disruptions in the coming months. Read more ->
• Tagawa Greenhouses improved profitability by consolidating operations, reducing overhead, and refocusing on high margin crops. Strategic consolidation and facility optimization may deserve serious consideration as input costs remain elevated. Read more ->
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HONDURAS SPOTLIGHT: LA CEIBA / ATLANTIDA
About La Ceiba / Atlantida
La Ceiba, located on Honduras's northern Caribbean coast in Atlantida province, is a tropical region defined by high rainfall and humid conditions ideal for fruit production. The area is historically rooted in banana cultivation but has diversified significantly into pineapple and citrus crops. The Port of La Ceiba serves as Central America's second largest export gateway, making the region critical for agricultural shipments to North America and beyond. Major producers and exporters operate at substantial scale here; the region handles approximately 15 million boxes of tropical fruit annually. For Ontario operators sourcing tropical inputs or considering worker recruitment, La Ceiba represents a key supply and labor source tied to established export infrastructure.
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In the News
• Honduran farm agritourism model shows alternative revenue stream: sunflower operation near La Ceiba attracts 70,000 annual visitors while maintaining livestock production, demonstrating diversification potential for operators facing commodity price pressures. Read more ->
• Rural poverty in Honduras declining through targeted farming outreach programs that improve yields and market access for smallholder operators; relevant to understanding supply chain partners and labor availability in Atlantida region. 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
Maya Maple Connect updates continue in our next edition.