Labour and staff shortages in horticulture are not a new problem.

As the Canadian Agricultural Human Resources Council (CAHRC) reported in 2018, labour shortages cost the greenhouse industry more than $100 million.

What can we do as a sector to attract and retain qualified workers? We sought to answer this question during the Growing Horticulture Roundtable, hosted by Greenhouse Canada magazine and Fruit & Vegetable magazine.

• Part 1: Introduction: Learn about our speakers and their perspectives as growers, educators and industry partners
• Part 2: Challenges: Hear some of the challenges they face when it comes to hiring, training and retaining staff. 
• Part 3: The Ideal Candidate: Panelists discuss qualities that make up the ideal candidate and how education and on-farm training play a part.
• Part 4: Opportunities: Panelists discuss ways in which the sector can promote the opportunities that a career in horticulture can bring.

Panelists:

• Stephanie Slaman of John Slaman Greenhouses, Ont.
• Dusty Zamecnik of EZ Grow Farms, Ont.
• Kim Wickwire of Olds College, Alta.
• Laura Bryce of Kwantlen Polytechnic University, B.C.
• Niki Bennett of Ontario Greenhouse Vegetable Growers, Ont.
• Tania Humphrey of Vineland Research and Innovation Centre, Ont.

Thank you to sponsor A.M.A. Horticulture for making this roundtable possible. Watch their special In the Spotlight video for their thoughts on recruitment, work culture and opportunities to collaborate in the sector.