Jobs on Farms

Notes for May 2022: Spring is here and that means Strawberry season is upon us!  It started in February in Florida, Texas, southern California; then March along the Gulf coast, April in the Deep South and west coast, May through much of the country, and June in northern areas. Cherries and Blueberries are next, about a month later. Of course, cool weather crops, like Rhubarb, asparagus and greens should be available almost everywhere. Check your area's copy calendar (see this page) and call your local farms for seasonal updates. 

See these pages to find a local Strawberry Festival, or a Cherry or cherry blossom festival or a Blueberry festival.

We also have easy home canning, jam and jelly making, preserving, drying and freezing directions. You can access recipes and other resources from the drop down menus at the top of the page or the site search. If you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to write me! It is easy to make your own ice cream, even gelato, or low fat or low sugar ice cream - see this page. Also note, there are many copycat website listing U-pick farms now.  They have all copied their information from here and usually do not ever update.  Since 2002, I've been updating the information every day but Christmas; so if you see anything wrong or outdated, please write me!

Children's Consignment Sales occur in both the Spring and Fall  See our companion website to find a local community or church kid's consignment sale!

Jobs on Farms

Are you a farmer looking for seasonal workers? (Farms: add your job needs here)  Or a student looking for a summer farm job?  This page, as far as we can tell, is the most complete, current and comprehensive listing of farm job search websites and engines. While pick-your-own farms obviously employ fewer staff than regular farms, they still need some help.

These are good resources for both farmers looking for staff and workers looking for employment. There are also agricultural jobs available to working travellers; doing  planting, peeling, packing and picking fruit and vegetables. Keep in mind that many small scale farmers advertise their job openings in local newspapers or by word of mouth, so you might have more success asking around in Pubs and farm associations in the farm's local area.

How to get a job on a farm?

1. Start local.  In other words, call or stop by the farms in your local area. The idea of finding a job halfway around the world is fairly insane. Farm jobs do not justify the cost of the travel alone.  and you won't know the local culture, language, laws... do you even have a visa? If you are experienced in farming, maybe then you could look abroad, otherwise, start local.
2. Go where the jobs are - Start local doesn't include places where there are NO farming jobs. Like in a desert. Moving WITHIN your country may make sense, if there are few far, jobs in your area.
3. Look for farms whose needs match your skills - There are farms that are open to the public, like at an Agri-tainment, U-Pick farm, where customer service skills are more important than the ability to grow or pick fruit. On the other end of the spectrum, farms with specialty crops, like olives, cork, nuts, may need workers to tend the plants. There knowledge and experience with those crops would matter. 

Expectations

Expect to work hard for low pay - The product is fruit, nuts and veggies. An apple is not an Apple computer, so you won't get paid what an Apple employee is.

Wages vary, but are generally the lowest of any job in any country. The hours can be long and often necessary to work overtime and everyday to get the crops picked when it is ripe, so even though wages are often low, the hours can make up for it. Some farmers pay by the hour but others pay by the amount you pick (also called piece work). In any case, you obviously need to be reasonably fit and hard working to make it pay. Accommodation is often provided, although it is pretty basic and Spartan. If you desire work in agriculture and on farms, understand that picking is the absolute bottom rung on the ladder.  If you have any education and/or a functioning brain; you might want to try something further up the food chain; such as a manager, sales clerk, tending to animals, etc.

PLEASE READ THIS: You must contact these farms and companies directly yourself. PickYourOwn.org has NO affiliation with them, and we have NO jobs to offer.  I just put this page together to help contact the agencies and farms listed below! 

If you are looking for this information arranged by country, click here!  Also U.S. Farm jobs, by individual farm are here.

I would recommend you start with this website: PickingJobs.com They specialize in jobs on farms picking fruit and vegetables and cover many countries.

• AgCareers - This website is like Monster.com for agricultural careers.  Not really aimed at the seasonal field worker, this is more for people pursuing a career in agriculture. This is the link to their apprenticeship page: Agriculture Jobs at Farms.com AgCareers - AgCareers provides agriculture job listings and career resources to assist in developing your AgCareer. Job seekers can post their resumes and farms can post openings.
  
  Here you can find all jobs in the U.S. on the AgCareers.com website. Use the map below to drill down to more specific geographic regions.

  	> Mid-Atlantic > New England > South > Mid-West > South West > West

• AgHires.com - About themselves, AgHires.com says "the official site for jobs in agriculture. We're dedicated to connecting top talent with the top employers in and around the agriculture industry. We understand what it takes to find the right people and we're determined to help you succeed. We grew up in the ag industry, we're beyond passionate for agriculture and are working hard to promote its culture and showcasing what the industry has to offer."
• Agriculture-jobs-online.com - Agriculture Job Search, Agriculture Jobs, Jobs In Agriculture - Agriculture job search guide. The one stop site for all your agriculture job search needs. Now Find Agriculture Related Jobs With the Department of Agriculture Jobs.
• AgriSeek - Agricultural Jobs - Agricultural Jobs, . All products, auctions, jobs, careers, Agricultural Jobs, farms for sale, machinery, animal, are brought by farmers, dealers.
• AgriSupport - Farm and agriculture jobs. US, Australian and other international farm job listings.
• AnyworkAnywhere - Farm, Fruit Picking & Packing Jobs. They also have jobs guides to help explain what the job conditions are like.
• ATTRA Sustainable Farming Internships and Apprenticeships List -  This is a directory of on-the-job learning opportunities in sustainable and organic agriculture in the U.S. (and some in Canada). Published by the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service since 1989 as a tool to help farmers and apprentices connect with each other. Searching the database is free and accessible to all, posting positions requires a $5 Internship Database Listing Day Pass.
• BackdoorJobs in Farming - This website is virtually about jobs in "the simple life and living more sustainably (and organically!)". It's for those who want to transform their world into something completely different ; learning to become more self-reliant, connecting with the earth, integrating skills from the "good old days" that many of us take for granted, and leading a more balanced and harmonious lifestyle.
• Beginning Farmers.com - lists internships and some job openings.
• California State University Agricultural Jobs Listings - These are generally for college educated, degreed or intern positions in agriculture.
• COMFOODSJOBS: Tufts University's acclaimed announcement service for employment, internships, and similar opportunities across the sustainable food system spectrum. Subscription to the list is free; a daily digest form can be set up to lessen the email flurry.
• Center for Rural Affairs Land Link Service  - CFRA's free lservice connects retiring farmers with aspiring farmers to work out beneficial arrangements to transfer ownership. This does NOT mean that anyone is just going to give you their farm!.
• Coolworks - Farm and garden jobs listings
• Eager Farmer - A nation-wide listing of job opportunities. Cheap to post positions, free to apply.
• EcoForest, Apdo Correos 29, 29100 Coin, Malaga, Spain; 011-34-661-079 950; [email protected] Small fruit farm in southern Spain that offers a place to live at low cost while changing to a healthy, sustainable way of life. They have a working visitor program, where work contributed subsidizes your keep.  It is a vegan diet, all raw food. I guess that's "roughaging it"! :)
• Emandal Farm - 16500 Hearst Post Office Road, Willits, California 95490. Hosting environmental education school groups in the spring and family and private guests in the fall affords a variety of employment opportunities that are great for transitioning between jobs, investigating a new career path, or serving as a jumping off point for future exploration. Applications are available online and accepted on a rolling basis. Explore current job openings or email [email protected] for more information.
• Farm and Ranch Jobs - does exactly that, lists jobs on farms and ranches in the United States.
• Farm and Wilderness (F&W) - Vermont - Each year, nearly 300 staff members are hired for seasonal work (250 of them in the summer). Positions include camp counselors, senior support staff, activity heads, carpenters, cooks & kitchen staff, drivers, farmers, gardeners, maintenance workers, nurses, outdoor educators, special event coordinators and trip leaders. Work can seem like play in the camps because a cooperative group spirit enriches all the experiences of swimming and hiking, building and farming, dancing and music, crafts and cooking, and sharing thoughts and emotions. F&W also employs seasonal crew and interns throughout the year in the areas of organic farming, maintenance, carpentry and retreat coordination. Compensation includes a modest salary, housing and meals (mostly from fresh organic produce grown onsite!). Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until all positions are filled.
• The Farmhands UK service s targeted for Britain's crop growers, farmers, factory or packhouse operators with seasonal labour needs of minimum 10 people for periods of 2 to 10 months. The businesses should have accommodation available for the farm workers in the form of caravans, cottages, mobile homes, dormitories with amenities and kitchens available. The Farmhands UK is a service of Aston Ltd., which is a Slovak employment agency established in 1997. It is offering multiple student summer work abroad programs and personnel leasing to Slovak based manufacturing companies. We are a dynamically growing company concentrated on clients needs. For information about our programs and services, please visit our company web site at www.astonltd.sk.
• FarmingWork.com -  They offer job listings and guides  if you want to work on a farm with no experience - you’ve come to the right place to get your foot in the door!
• FarmJobSearch.com -  Farm jobs
• Fruitfuljobs.com was founded as a seasonal labour, web-based introductory agency by AMS in 2001 and has since introduced workers to employers from all areas of the land-based industry all over the UK. It is now used industry-wide to search for resources, jobs and candidates from graduate to board level as well as fulfilling short-term employment needs. Fruitfuljobs.com averages almost 400,000 hits a month and has strategic alliances to numerous industry organisations, higher education establishments, trade media and backpacker outlets. Due to our ongoing direct involvement with the sectors we recruit for, as well as an inherent understanding of the urgency job seekers and employers in our field often face, we can solve your recruitment, career and working holiday requirements.
• Farm Helpers in New Zealand, 41 South st, Palmerston North, 4410 New Zealand.  Phone/fax:ax 011-64-6 354 1104. Email: [email protected],  NZ$25 ($17) membership includes booklet listing over 300 farmers looking for helpers in exchange for room and board.
• Good Food Jobs -  A searchable database of jobs relating to farming, food artisanry, and food policy. Positions are free to search for (you just have to sign up for a free subscription).
• Gould Farm - Massachusetts - 600-acre farm. Volunteers generally work in one specific area of the farm, such as gardening, farming, forestry, dairy management, crafts, cooking, childcare, administration or clinical work. Boston area program interns live in a smaller community and provide support, guidance, and advocacy for clients who are well on their way to leading more independent lives. A minimum commitment of 12 months is necessary, with opportunities available throughout the year. Benefits include a monthly stipend, housing in privates rooms, wholesome meals and full medical coverage. Mature, well-rounded and people-oriented individuals who are interested in learning and living in a therapeutic community are encouraged to apply.  
• GrowFood.org - A free listing of a variety of farms looking for volunteers or other work arrangements.
• Hawthorne Valley Farm Visiting Students Program and Summer Camp - Ghent, NY  12075 - The internship program operates through the school year for the fall and spring semesters.  The Fall Internship begins the last week of August until the 3rd week in November.  There are three positions available.  The interviewing process begins in January and continues until all positions are filled. The Spring Internship work dates are from the second week of January until the first week in June.  The interviewing process begins in September and continues until positions are filled.  There are four positions available. Compensation includes room and board (organic vegetarian meals) plus $400 per month stipend.   Our program by using hands-on teaching methods creates a true learning experience for both the staff and the children.  If you are at least 21 years of age, enjoy working with children, have a love of the outdoors, animals and farm life, come join us.   Complete our application and return it to us with a copy of your resume and the names and phone numbers of three working references, preferably employers who have seen you working with children, and a cover letter describing your interest in this position.  Once we have received your application, we will contact you for an interview.  We look forward to hearing from you.
• Heifer International helps families move toward self-reliance in 125 countries with sustainable solutions to hunger and poverty. Heifer works to end world hunger and poverty in a way that cares for the Earth by providing sustainable gifts of livestock and agricultural training to people struggling daily for food and income. In the U.S.,  they operate three interactive Learning Centers located in Arkansas, California and Massachusetts. Volunteers hold major responsibilities and perform duties such as facilitating team building activities, assisting with global village programming, leading tours, hosting the visitor's center, caring for livestock, tending the gardens, maintaining the facilities and providing operations support. Residential volunteers must be at least 18, live on-site and dedicate at least a month and up to a year, to full-time volunteering. Residential volunteers receive housing, as well as a stipend if you volunteer for a minimum of one month. The online application will allow you to create a profile that enables you to view listings of all available positions at each learning center.
• HELP Exchange - Free info exchange for people who want to work for free accommodation and meals in Australia and New Zealand. It has about 150 addresses in Australia and 200 in New Zealand.
• Iceland jobs on farms: see this page in Iceland and this page about working in Iceland.
• Indeed.com.  Indeed is the huge jobs metasearch engine.  Click on the link to go directly to the farm jobs listings.
• International Farm Transition Network: A national directory of state-based farm-link programs.
• Massachusetts - the 2011 guide to finding a job on a farm in Massachusetts.
• Midwest Organic & Sustainable Education Service (MOSES) - Organic Farming Job Postings. Job postings remain up for 60 days unless filled.
• NationsJobs - Agricultural jobs.
• National Harvest Labour Information Service -(NHLIS), helps growers in Australia and jobseekers find each other at peak harvest times. Here's how to contact them:
  • Phone: 1800 062 332
  • The website provides comprehensive information about harvest labour opportunities in all States of Australia
• National Young Farmers Colation - NYFC also has sections on land opportunities and job postings in its Farmers Forum.  Looking for a Land Link program in particular?  We've got a few listed below, but you can find our complete list at the Land Link Directory.Do you know about a service that's not listed here? Consider this resource an crowd-sourced document - please help us keep it up-to-date and comprehensive. If there's a resource you know about, let us know and we will add it: contact [email protected].
  Nation-wide Listings
  Midwest Regional Listings: IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD, WI
  Northeast Regional Listings: CT, MA, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
  South/Mid-Atlantic Regional Listings: AL, AR, DC, DE, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
  West Regional Listings: AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY
  Other Land Resources
• Northern Victoria Fruitgrowers' Association - PO Box 612, Mooroopna, Victoria 3629, Australia; 011-61-3-5821 5825 3700, [email protected]. Actively recruits fruit pickers from January to March for about 200 growers. Also see the Victorian Peach and Apricot Growers' Assn., 30A Bank Street, (P.O. Box 39), Cobram, Victoria 3644, Australia (011-61-3-5872 1729, [email protected] ).
• Pacific Quest (Hawaii) -  a typical day consists of working the land while learning about permaculture, sustainability, basic living skills and Hawaiian life, with outings twice a week. The treatment team consists of four to five field staff: 1-2 Leads, a Health & Safety Instructor, a Support Instructor and an Apprentice. Each staff member will work eight-days on, six-days off from Thursday to Thursday. Benefits include a salary as well as room and board during the working period (on your week off, accommodations are not provided). At minimum, applicants must have a bachelor's degree in psychology, farming or outdoor education. If you can make a one-year commitment and have experience and enthusiasm for working with teens in an outdoor therapeutic setting, email your cover letter and resume to Human Resources.
• Orion Grassroots Jobsource - A nation-wide network for connecting with green jobs. Including, but not limited to, farming and food-related jobs.
• PickingJobs.com - is the place to find unusual seasonal jobs abroad. Jobs involving picking fruit formed the basis of the website, but there are also jobs in the fields of organic farming, nature conservation, the environment and green and sustainable energy. There is a variety from grape-picking in France, strawberry picking in the UK to picking up on the harvest trail in Australia, there is always fruit to be picked somewhere. You will also find other seasonal jobs on farms around the world.
• Planorganic.com - based in West Cork, Ireland, posts a few vacancies on Irish organic and ordinary farms.
• Ponic Jobs - Jobs in hydroponic, aquaponic and aeroponic farming industries.
• Irish Organic Farmers and Growers Association in Co. Westmeath has a few members looking for live-in helpers.
• Rocky Creek Farm - 11007 Isis Hwy, Biggenden, Queensland 4621, Australia; tel/fax 011-61-7-4127-1377; [email protected]. Offers a 4-day course for jackaroos and jillaroos (farm hands) for AUS$484 which may include (for those with working holiday visas) placement on a Queensland property after the course.
• Rodale Institute's Farmers Connect -
• Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) - A organisation managed by the British government which allows up to 16,500 full-time students from outside the European Union to do harvesting and other manual work for participating farmers. Applicants must contact one or more of the nine participating agencies directly.
• Seasonal Work Australia - is a new, free-access, job-search website linking travelers directly with seasonal and casual work opportunities in Australia and with some relevant information about visas, accommodation, transport and adventure tourism.
• Seasonal Work NZ, PO Box 2075, Rotorua, New Zealand, 011-64-7-349 2865; [email protected]. Publicizes short-term vacancies mainly in the fields of fruit harvesting and processing.
• Stablemate, (no website) PO Box 1206, Windsor, NSW 2756, Australia; 011-61-2-4587 9770; [email protected]. Supplies staff with relevant experience to the horse industry. Operates equine (horsies) exchange program with the U.S.
• Sustainable Agriculture Jobs, Internships, and Apprenticeships - This is a Facebook page that lists sustainable ag positions,
• Torrens Valley Orchards - Forreston Road. Gumeracha, S.A., Australia; 011-61-8-3891405; [email protected]. Orchard work Dec-Sept, especially cherry picking and packing (in December and January).
• Wine Jobs:
  • WineJobs.com
  • WineJobsUSA.com
  • BBS "winejobs" Overview
  • WineCountryJobs.com -a really good list of jobs in the wine business - but their website has been down lately
• Willing Workers on Organic Farms" (WWOOF)  - the basis of which is you work in exchange for your keep and you can do so in the U.S. and all over the world. Check out their links around the globe:

  • AFRICA

     

    • Malawi
    • Nigeria
    • Sierra Leone
    • South Africa
    • Tanzania
    • Togo
    • Other countries,

    AMERICAS

     

    • Belize
    • Brazil
    • Canada
    • Chile
    • Colombia
    • Costa Rica
    • Ecuador
    • Guatemala
    • Mexico
    • Peru
    • U.S.A.
    • Venezuela
    • Other countries,

    ASIA - PACIFIC

     

    • Australia
    • Bangladesh
    • China
    • India
    • Japan
    • Kazakhstan
    • Korea
    • Nepal
    • New Zealand
    • Philippines
    • Sri Lanka
    • Taiwan
    • Thailand
    • Other countries,

    .

    EUROPE

     

    • Austria
    • Belgium
    • Bulgaria
    • Czech
    • Denmark
    • Estonia
    • France
    • Germany
    • Greece
    • Hungary
    • Ireland
    • Israel
    • Italy
    • Lithuania
    • Moldova
    • Netherlands
    • Norway
    • Poland
    • Portugal
    • Romania
    • Serbia
    • Spain
    • Sweden
    • Switzerland
    • Turkey
    • UK
    • Other countries,