For years, U.S. employers assumed that sourcing workers from Mexico was the cheaper option. With its scale and geographic proximity, Mexico seemed the natural first choice. But when the numbers are scrutinised, the gap disappears and in some cases, Jamaica comes out ahead.

Ryan Ayres, Director of Human Resources at FirstFruits Farms in Washington State, has worked with both Jamaican and Mexican crews. His experience is clear: Jamaica’s competitiveness does not rest on being the cheapest, but on the system that surrounds its workers.

At FirstFruits, Ayres began hiring Jamaican workers in 2022. What started with 40 men has now grown to 60, with contracts extending over six months. The decision to expand was driven not by price, but by reliability. Jamaica’s pre-departure orientation, rapid visa turnaround, and embedded support through liaison officers created a seamless process.

“If you do the math, Jamaica and Mexico are about the same,” Ayres explained. “And that doesn’t account for the added value Jamaica brings through structure and support. It’s absolutely worth it.”

Airfare is often cited as the cost differentiator. Yet Ayres points out that moving workers from southern Mexico to Washington State can be just as costly, sometimes more than flying workers from Kingston. Beyond flights, Jamaica eliminates hidden expenses. Workers do not need hotels during processing, as the government provides dormitory-style accommodation at no cost to employers. Documentation and visa submissions are managed centrally, ensuring that the process is streamlined and predictable.

Kelly Gouge (right), District Manager at SavATree in Denver, shares a photo with Will Lapoint (left) after receiving the John Garvey 2023 Person of the Year award from the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado (ALCC).

This predictability translates into operational savings. Workers arrive on time, prepared, and equipped with training that reduces early attrition. For employers managing tight harvest windows, the ability to count on a labour force without unexpected delays is worth far more than shaving off a few dollars in airfare.

The difference, Ayres argues, is strategic. “I sat in on the pre-departure orientation in Kingston. No other country does that. The workers came ready, and the whole process was structured. That level of organisation saves us time and money.”

For U.S. agriculture, where margins are tight and labour shortages are acute, Jamaica’s value proposition is clear. It is not about cheap labour. It is about smart labour a system designed to deliver efficiency, trust, and consistency season after season.