Each spring, a small crew of Jamaican farmworkers arrives in Harvard, Massachusetts. They begin pruning apple trees across acres of land at Carlson and Westward Orchards. By the time the harvest ends in autumn, they will have worked hundreds of hours. Many of them have done so for decades.

Audley Gentles is one of them. He first came to Carlson’s orchard in 1987. This year marks his 33rd season.
“It’s a good opportunity to work,” he said simply.

Frank Carlson, co-owner of Carlson Orchards, is clear about their value.
“They’re here every day. They show up early. We often have to tell them the day is done because they would keep working from dawn to dark.”

Carlson’s team includes six Jamaican workers, several of whom are also farmers back home. Their familiarity with the land and the rhythm of the work makes them essential. Tasks like pruning, thinning, and hauling require timing and consistency. Carlson says the returning workers know what to do without being told.

“They work extremely hard and take pride in doing a good job,” he said. “They understand what it means to be responsible.”

The arrangement benefits both sides. Under the H-2A program, Jamaican workers earn well above the minimum wage in Massachusetts. Housing and transportation are provided by the farm. With fewer expenses, they can save and send more money home.

Carlson has seen the economic impact.
“If you go to Jamaica, the guys who work with us live a class above their neighbours,” he said. “They invest in their homes. They look after their families. They use the opportunity.”

For Carlson and other growers, the program offers more than labour. It offers predictability. At a time when local labour shortages have disrupted farms across the country, Jamaican workers have established a steady presence.

“They’re not just a part of the operation. They make it possible,” he said.

Season after season, the crew returns. They bring experience, endurance, and a standard that is hard to replace. What begins in early spring as a quiet arrival has become, over time, the foundation of a successful harvest.