The Jamaica Central Labour Organisation (JCLO) will represent the island’s agricultural workforce on the global stage this October as it participates in the International Fresh Produce Association’s Global Produce & Floral Show, set for October 17–18 in Anaheim, California. The event brings together more than 20,000 professionals from across the produce and floral supply chain, including growers, packers, and distributors from over 70 countries.

For JCLO, participation in this year’s show marks a strategic effort to deepen relationships with U.S. agricultural employers and to present Jamaica’s overseas employment programme as a model of reliability, skill, and innovation.

“Our presence at the Global Produce & Floral Show is about more than visibility,” said Colette Roberts Risden, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Security. “It’s about positioning Jamaica as a trusted and forward-thinking partner in the global agricultural workforce. We’re focused on innovation, worker welfare, and maintaining the high standards that have defined our programme for more than seven decades.”

Showcasing a Modern Workforce

At its booth inside the Grower–Shipper Pavilion, JCLO will showcase the strength of Jamaica’s agricultural labour force and unveil its latest advancement tools that make overseas recruitment more efficient and transparent.
The thrust is to streamline application, onboarding, and communication processes and reflects JCLO’s commitment to modernising how it manages the H-2A programme while strengthening employer relations.

Alongside these digital innovations, JCLO will demonstrate its workforce readiness framework, detailing how Jamaican workers are trained in safety, productivity, and conduct before deployment to U.S. farms. These structured modules are central to maintaining the country’s longstanding reputation for dependable, disciplined, and high-performing farmworkers.

Building Partnerships, Strengthening Systems

The Jamaican delegation will also engage with agricultural companies, labour associations, and farm operators interested in exploring partnerships for seasonal and year-round placements. Through targeted networking sessions and one-on-one meetings, JCLO aims to expand its reach into new U.S. states and emerging agri-sectors such as controlled-environment agriculture and sustainable farming.

“Every season, our workers help keep America’s farms productive,” noted a JCLO spokesperson. “Attending this event allows us to connect directly with the people shaping the future of fresh produce and to show how Jamaica is evolving to meet that future.”

A Legacy of Productivity and Partnership

For over seven decades, JCLO has served as Jamaica’s central agency for overseas employment, ensuring that workers are fairly treated, properly supported, and adequately prepared for international placements. Today, that legacy continues, strengthened by innovation and guided by a mission to create shared value between workers, employers, and the Jamaican economy.

JCLO’s participation in the 2025 Global Produce & Floral Show represents not just continuity but transformation, where tradition meets technology and Jamaica’s most valuable export remains its people.