Mayan Greenhouse Connection — Issue #1: Meet Jairo + Greenhouse Industry Update

Issue #1  |  June 10, 2026

This is our first edition, and we are glad you are here.

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.

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.

Contact [email protected]

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.

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Managing operations through climate shifts and major business changes requires planning and the right tools.

El Niño patterns could disrupt your growing conditions. Scientists warn a "super El Niño" may significantly impact agriculture globally, affecting temperature, humidity, and pest pressure in your greenhouse. Understanding these climate shifts now helps you adjust ventilation, irrigation, and pest management strategies ahead of time. Read more ->

Ontario growers can access up to $250,000 in energy monitoring incentives. Save on Energy's EMIS funding program supports installation of systems to optimize greenhouse energy performance, a direct route to lower operating costs and better resource management. Read more ->

Greenhouse disease research just received $7M in Ontario funding. Projects targeting aggressive pepper diseases are among 34 initiatives supported through new provincial funding, offering potential solutions to persistent crop challenges affecting Southern Ontario operations. Read more ->

Leading teams through major changes separates successful operations from struggling ones. How you manage and communicate business transitions directly impacts staff retention and productivity during critical periods. Read more ->

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Energy costs continue to pressure greenhouse operations as input expenses rise across agricultural sectors. U.S. farmers report widespread income concerns with more than half citing rising input prices as their primary challenge, signaling similar pressures affecting Ontario producers.

Energy prices increased 5.1% in April according to OECD data, directly impacting heating and climate control costs in controlled environment operations. Read more ->

Nearly two-thirds of U.S. farmers expect income declines this year driven by input cost inflation, a trend affecting cross-border competitiveness for Ontario greenhouse and nursery operators. Read more ->

R.E.A.CH. International has announced winners of the 19th Annual Greenhouse Competitions for produce growers, recognizing operational excellence and best practices across the sector. Read more ->

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The Comayagua Valley, located in central Honduras at high altitude, maintains a naturally cool climate ideal for vegetable production. The region dominates Honduras's export agriculture, cultivating melons, tomatoes, peppers, and onions primarily for North American and European markets. Its sophisticated irrigation infrastructure and concentration of export-certified packing facilities make it Central America's most competitive fresh produce zone. The valley supplies roughly 40% of Honduras's total agricultural exports, generating significant foreign revenue. Recent infrastructure investments and expanded cold chain capacity have strengthened its competitive position. For Southern Ontario operators sourcing winter vegetables or considering workforce recruitment, Comayagua represents the region's most reliable and professionally-managed production hub, with year-round supply consistency and established export logistics.

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Some people grow food. Jairo grows knowledge and he has been doing it since he was ten years old. At 34, Jairo arrives in Ontario this season carrying more than two decades of hands-on agricultural experience rooted in the soils of Barbarosa, Honduras. Alongside his wife, he built a small greenhouse from the ground up, where he currently manages cucumber, lettuce, passion fruit, papaya, and radish crops, learning the demands of each one through careful observation, self-directed study, and a willingness to ask hard questions when something goes wrong. When cucumber plants began dropping fruit before maturity, Jairo didn't move on. He started investigating why. That instinct, to look deeper rather than accept the surface, is what defines him as a grower. Now, through the Maya Maple Connect program, Jairo is preparing to bring that same curiosity and discipline to a farm in Ontario. He isn't coming to learn what work is. He's coming to discover what it can become. Read Jairo's full story at mayangreenhouseconnection.fyi

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Agricultural finance expansion: BANHCAFE is strengthening rural credit access and job creation across Honduras's agricultural sector, improving financing options for farm operations. Read more ->

EUDR compliance shifts farming practices: Honduran coffee growers--including those in major valleys--must adapt operations to meet EU deforestation regulations, affecting production methods and potentially farm economics. Read more ->

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Migrant Workers Day Festival 2026

Sunday, July 5, 2026  |  12:00 pm - 5:00 pm

Seacliff Park Amphitheatre, 24 Seacliff Dr W, Leamington, ON  N8H 3Z3

The annual Migrant Workers Day Festival returns to Leamington this summer. Organized by the Windsor-Essex Bilingual Legal Clinic C.A.R.E. for International Workers Program, the event brings together workers, families, and the broader community for a day of live music, multicultural food, cultural performances, and community services.

Mobile medical support will be on-site, along with informational tables, raffles, and free admission for all.

Hopefully see you there!

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Maya Maple Connect helps Ontario greenhouse and farm operations fill their labour gaps with skilled, reliable workers from Honduras.

We are Honduran owned and Honduran run. While Maya Maple Connect only opened its doors in 2025, the people behind it bring over 10 years of experience recruiting agricultural workers from Honduran farming communities for Canadian greenhouses, not as outsiders navigating a foreign system, but as people who know these workers personally, understand where they come from, and have built the trust that makes placements work long-term.

That background is what sets us apart. When you recruit through Maya Maple Connect, you're working with a team that speaks the language, knows the regions, and has relationships on the ground, which means better candidates, fewer surprises, and workers who arrive prepared for the job.

We handle recruitment, TFWP compliance, and onboarding end to end. You focus on your operation.

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.

Contact us at mayamaple.com

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Language barriers in healthcare create safety risks for migrant workers — Communication gaps when temporary workers get sick can delay treatment and compromise care quality, affecting worker wellbeing and your operation's liability. Operators should ensure workers have access to interpretation services and clear health protocols. Read more ->

Worker representation in policy discussions gaining traction — Migrant farm workers are advocating for input on conditions and rights that affect recruitment and retention. Understanding worker concerns helps operations

Contact us: [email protected]