Joel grew up in Mindoro, where fields and fruit trees surrounded his small barangay. As a young boy, he often climbed mango trees and helped his parents harvest bananas to sell in the local market. Life was simple but hard. His father was a fisherman, and his mother sold produce, yet their income was barely enough to put food on the table.
When Joel got older, he worked odd jobs construction helper, tricycle driver, and farmhand just to support his growing family. But as expenses piled up with his two children entering school, he knew he had to find something more stable. That was when a friend told him about opportunities to work as a fruit picker in Canada under a seasonal agricultural worker program.
The application process was long and expensive, but Joel persevered. When he finally received his contract, he felt both excitement and fear. It was his first time leaving the Philippines, and the thought of being away from his family for months brought tears to his eyes. Still, he reminded himself. This sacrifice is for them.
Arriving in British Columbia, Joel was struck by the vastness of the orchards. Rows upon rows of apple and cherry trees stretched farther than his eyes could see. His job was to pick fruits carefully, ensuring they weren’t bruised, and place them into baskets that often weighed over 20 kilos when full.
The work was grueling. He started before sunrise, wearing layers of clothes to fight the cold. During harvest season, the pace was relentless bending, climbing ladders, carrying heavy baskets hour after hour. His back ached, his hands developed calluses, and his legs felt like they were giving out by the end of each day. Yet Joel pressed on, motivated by the thought of his children eating better meals and going to school without worrying about unpaid fees.
One of the biggest challenges was loneliness. In the evenings, after dinner in the small bunkhouse shared with other workers, Joel often sat quietly, scrolling through photos of his family. Sometimes, he cried in silence, missing the simple joy of eating with them at home. Video calls helped, but they also reminded him of what he was missing. His youngest son once asked, Papa, when will come home to play with me? That question cut deep, but Joel answered with courage; Soon, anak. Papa is just picking fruits so you can have a better life.
Despite the hardships, there were moments of pride. Joel loved looking at the mountains in the distance and the fruits he had picked neatly packed for markets across Canada. He thought to himself, These hands may be tired, but they are helping feed familied around the world.
After months of hard labor, Joel returned home with enough savings to pay debts, renovate their small home, and set aside money for his children’s education. His wife proudly told neighbors, Joel’s work may be far away, but his love reaches us every day.
In time, Joel became a regular seasonal worker, returning to Canada each year during harvest. The cycle of leaving and coming home was never easy, but he found comfort in knowing that every fruit he picked carried the weight of his family’s dreams.
Joel’s story as a fruit picker in Canada shows that OFWs are not only laborers in foreign lands, they are harvesters of hope, sowing sacrifice and reaping a better future for the ones they love most.
