Issue #3 | July 20, 2026
Welcome to our third edition.
You may notice a new look at the top of this issue. We updated our banner to include the Maya Maple Connect logo because this newsletter was imagined, designed, and produced by our team. It felt right to make that visible. The Mayan Greenhouse Connection exists because Maya Maple Connect believes that the relationship between Honduran farming communities and Canadian greenhouse operations is worth building carefully, and worth communicating clearly. This newsletter is one of the ways we do that.
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.
Mayan Greenhouse Connection helps make that connection happen. We are Honduran owned and Honduran run, and we care 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: Servelio Vásquez
Some dreams are born out of comfort. Servelio Vásquez's was born out of necessity.
A father of five from Lepaera, Honduras, Servelio's first chance at working in Canada ended before it began because program issues shut the door and the money he had invested in his visa was gone. Then his wife became seriously ill. Facing mounting medical bills with no other options, he made the decision no parent should have to make: he sold the only home his family had ever known, a humble house with clay floors and a zinc roof, for roughly CAD $8,000.
A neighbour in the community opened their doors. Servelio walked 50 minutes each day to work a farm for about $10 a day. Enough to buy food. Not enough to rebuild.
He didn't give up.
Today, Servelio is in Canada. He lives on $200 a month for food and saves everything else. In less than four months, he bought a piece of land and started building a small home, the casita where he dreams of welcoming his children.
He never learned to read or write. He has earned the respect of every worker and supervisor around him anyway.
If you are interested in hiring workers similar to Servelio Vásquez, please reach out to [email protected].
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SOUTHERN ONTARIO FARMING
Severe weather in Essex County underscores the importance of infrastructure resilience for Southern Ontario operators.
- A powerful storm caused significant damage across Essex County, including downed trees, power line failures, and structural damage to farm buildings. Greenhouse operators should review backup power systems, reinforced structures, and insurance coverage to minimize production losses during severe weather events. Read more ->
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GREENHOUSE INDUSTRY
Canadian greenhouse operations are seeing record output driven by export demand, but operators should prepare for operational and funding shifts ahead.
• Canada's greenhouse sector hit record production in 2025 with exports leading growth, though year-round domestic availability is being squeezed by the export focus. Export-driven expansion signals market opportunity but requires capacity planning to maintain supply chains. Read more ->
• P.L. Light Systems' partnership with Dutch Lighting Innovations expands horticultural lighting services while keeping the company independent, offering operators continued access to specialized lighting support as LED adoption and energy efficiency become central to operations. Read more ->
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HONDURAS SPOTLIGHT: LA CEIBA / ATLANTIDA
La Ceiba and Atlantida occupy Honduras's northern Caribbean coast, characterized by tropical climate, high rainfall, and humidity ideal for year-round production. The region is the country's primary agricultural export hub, historically dominated by banana cultivation but increasingly diversified into pineapple and citrus. The Port of La Ceiba serves as a critical gateway for Central American fruit exports to North American markets. Major operators including Standard Fruit Company and local cooperatives manage thousands of hectares across multiple crops. Recent shifts toward sustainability practices and worker certification programs reflect industry pressure to meet import standards. For Ontario operators, the region represents both a sourcing opportunity and a labor recruitment zone, though supply chain volatility and weather-related disruptions remain considerations.
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In the News
• FAO-Brazil partnership expanding family farming innovation across Central America: Regional cooperation program introducing modern tools and techniques to smallholder farmers, relevant for understanding production methods and potential competition in key Central American growing regions. Read more ->
• Wildlife conflict management using camera traps reducing farmer losses in Honduras: New monitoring approach helping protect endangered species while reducing crop/livestock damage, addressing a persistent operational challenge in the region and potentially improving farmer-conservation relations. Read more ->
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Migrant Workers Day Festival 2026 -- Cancelled Due to Severe Storm
The annual Migrant Workers Day Festival, scheduled for July 5 at Seacliff Park Amphitheatre in Leamington, was cancelled after a severe storm struck the festival grounds shortly before the event began. Weather conditions deteriorated within minutes, causing extensive damage to tents, equipment, and festival infrastructure. With no safe option to proceed, organizers made the immediate decision to cancel.
The Maya Maple Connect team was on-site that day and was disappointed to miss the opportunity to deliver our planned remarks on behalf of the Honduran workers we represent the people whose contributions make operations like yours possible every season. We want to thank Francy Muñoz for the kind invitation to speak, and extend our sincere gratitude to C.A.R.E. for the International Workers Program and TNO for organizing an event that matters deeply to the migrant worker community.
Francy extended her sincerest apologies to all attendees, partners, and organizations who traveled, many through difficult weather, to support the event. Her words captured what many of us felt: "Your commitment to migrant workers and your continued partnership remain a source of inspiration."
The festival is expected to return in 2027. We look forward to being there.
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The People Behind Every Opportunity
As someone who works for Maya Maple, I see every day that the Temporary Foreign Worker Program is about much more than recruitment and paperwork. At its core, it is about people. Behind every worker who arrives in Canada is a dedicated network of professionals working together to create opportunities that change lives.
From the people working on the farms who coordinate the jobs and help guide the process, to our office coordinators, LMIA processing teams, recruiters, and supervisors, every person plays a vital role. We also want to extend a special thank you to the Director of Human Resources at every farm, as well as to each farm that has a Human Resources coordinator and to the secretaries who coordinate operations. Their leadership, organization, and daily support are essential to keeping everything running smoothly. Together, we coordinate complex processes, navigate cultural differences, and respond to challenges that can arise at any moment. Whether we are processing documentation, resolving unexpected issues, arranging transportation, or ensuring workers are where they need to be, this work demands commitment, adaptability, and a deep sense of responsibility.
We also recognize the many challenges that have tested this program over the years, including COVID-19, measles outbreaks, travel disruptions, and other health and logistical concerns. These situations required careful planning, quick action, and strong communication from everyone involved. Because of the preparation, teamwork, and dedication of each person in the process, we were able to respond responsibly and continue supporting workers and farms through difficult times.
We also want to recognize our CANAG farms, whose partnership and dedication make these opportunities possible. Their patience, collaboration, and commitment to welcoming temporary foreign workers are essential to the success of this program. They play an important role in making travel plans, receiving the workers, processing work permits at the airport, and coordinating buses to their destinations.
We are equally grateful to the staff at embassies around the world, particularly the Embassy of Canada in Mexico, for their important role in coordinating the Agricultural Stream Program. Their efforts in processing applications and supporting workers throughout the immigration process help turn opportunity into reality.
Special recognition is also due to the teams at ServiceOntario. Despite often facing heavy workloads and serving thousands of individuals, they continue to provide essential services that help workers settle and begin their employment journey in Canada.
This work is not easy. It requires long hours, problem-solving, and constant coordination. Yet behind every application, every flight itinerary, every work permit, and every arrival are thousands of families, particularly in Honduras, whose lives are positively impacted by these opportunities.
For many families, the chance to work is invaluable. It means putting food on the table, investing in education, improving housing conditions, and creating hope for future generations. The Temporary Foreign Worker Program does more than fill labour needs -- it creates opportunities, strengthens communities, and transforms lives.
As someone proud to be part of Maya Maple, I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributes to this mission. Your hard work, compassion, and dedication do more than keep this program moving, they change lives in ways that are felt in homes, families, and communities every single day. Because of your efforts, thousands of people have the chance to work with dignity, support the people they love, and build a better future. That human impact is the true heart of this program, and it is a legacy we should all be proud to help create.
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If you are planning for an upcoming season or have a gap to fill right now, book a 15-minute call with our team, we will tell you exactly what is available and what the process looks like.
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Labour & Policy News
• International workers expanding into hog sector: Canadian hog operations are increasingly relying on TFWP and SAWP workers to fill labour gaps. As demand grows across livestock operations, competition for seasonal workers may intensify—plan recruitment timelines early. Read more ->
• Worker safety remains critical: A migrant farmworker fatality in Niagara has renewed calls for stronger protections and government accountability across the sector. Operators should review workplace safety protocols and accommodation standards to mitigate risk and demonstrate compliance. Read more ->
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TRAVEL & HEALTH NOTICES
NOTICE -- Measles Vaccination Requirement for Honduras Travel
The Government of Honduras has confirmed active measles (sarampion) circulation in several regions. Workers travelling from Honduras to Canada are strongly advised to ensure they are up to date on MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) vaccination before departure. Canadian employers under the TFWP and SAWP should confirm vaccination status during pre-arrival health screening. Workers who have not received two doses of MMR vaccine should do so at least two weeks before travel.
For more information, contact your TFWP liaison or visit the Public Health Agency of Canada's travel health notices page.