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Farmer, Producer
In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.
The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used. Here is how this occupation has been classified over time:
| Starting | $25.98 |
|---|---|
| Overall | $31.36 |
| Top | $34.45 |
Interest in supervising and hiring farm workers; and in determining amounts and kinds of crops to be grown and livestock to be raised, and in purchasing farm machinery, livestock, seed, feed and other supplies
Interest in co-ordinating information to plant, cultivate and harvest crops; and in raising and breeding livestock and poultry
Interest in driving - operating and maintaining farm machinery, equipment and buildings
The interest code helps you figure out if you’d like to work in a particular occupation.
It’s based on the Canadian Work Preference Inventory (CWPI), which measures 5 occupational interests: Directive, Innovative, Methodical, Objective and Social.
Each set of 3 interest codes is listed in order of importance.
A code in capital letters means it’s a strong fit for the occupation.
A code in all lowercase letters means the fit is weaker.
Market gardeners’ duties vary with the seasons. In winter and early spring, they:
From spring to fall they:
Harvest activities vary with the type of crop. Market gardeners may:
On a year-round basis, market gardeners:
Because most market gardeners are business owners, they usually have administrative duties related to running a business. They also may produce value-added products such as preserves or fresh bouquets for sale at farmers’ markets.
Market gardeners are independent business people. They deal directly with the public at a variety of different venues. These can include farmer, producer, and public markets. They work indoors and outdoors in all kinds of weather. The work can be repetitive and physically demanding. Some heavy lifting may be required.
There is no quiet period in the work life of market gardeners. They are a part of the increasing trend to buy local. This makes it essential to grow a quality product and maintain quality throughout the marketing process. This is the best way to maintain and increase sales from year to year. During harvest season, the earliest, highest-quality, and freshest fruits and vegetables command the best prices. Speed and organization are therefore crucial in getting crops off the field and to market. Working hours may be long and irregular.
The number of possible customers within reasonable travelling distance determines sales potentials. Because of this, market gardens are most often located relatively close to major centres.
Market gardeners need:
They should enjoy taking responsibility for their operations. They should like being methodical in their work. They should be comfortable operating machinery and equipment.
This chart shows which job skills are currently in highest demand for this occupational group. It was created using this occupation's 17 most recent Alberta job postings, collected between Dec 29, 2020 and Jul 28, 2021.
Review these skills to learn:
| Personal Suitability: Values and ethics | 16 |
|---|---|
| Personal Suitability: Organized | 16 |
| Personal Suitability: Flexibility | 16 |
| Personal Suitability: Initiative | 16 |
| Personal Suitability: Effective interpersonal skills | 15 |
| Personal Suitability: Team player | 15 |
| Personal Suitability: Excellent oral communication | 15 |
| Personal Suitability: Judgement | 14 |
| Perform general farm duties | 12 |
| Maintain farm machinery, equipment and buildings | 12 |
Market gardeners need to know about:
A farm background is helpful. Those without it may gain practical experience by working on a market farm. They may also take horticulture- or agriculture-related courses.
Horticulture information is available from the following organizations:
The Government of Alberta offers the Green Certificate Program. The program provides apprenticeship-style training. It combines hands-on farm mentorship with formal education.
The program is free and available to students at all Alberta high schools. Various specializations, such as field crop production and irrigated field crop production, are offered at each level. Graduates of the Level I Green Certificate Program are certified as farm production technicians. They may earn credits toward their high school diploma for each specialization they complete. Level II (farm production supervisor) and III (agribusiness manager) Green Certificates are also available. They are meant for people interested in a career in agriculture.
To participate in the Green Certificate Program, trainees must be at least 15 years of age and in grade 10, 11, or 12. The training takes about a year. That allows trainees to experience all four seasons on a farm.
For more information, students may visit the Green Certificate Program website or ask their guidance counsellor.
The following schools offer programs or courses that are related to this occupation but are not required to enter the field.
For a broad list of programs and courses that may be related to this occupation try searching using keywords.
To use some pesticides, market gardeners must hold a pesticide applicator certificate.
Pesticide applicators use pesticides (chemicals) to control pests, such as weeds, diseases or destructive insects or animals, as part of their paid employment.
Pesticide dispensers sell and store pesticides as part of their paid employment.
Under Alberta’s Environmental Protection and Enhancement Act [pdf] and Pesticide (Ministerial) Regulation [pdf], to apply a commercial-class pesticide such as insecticide, herbicide or fungicide you must be one of the following:
To sell pesticides you must be a certified dispenser. The 2 types of dispensers in Alberta are:
Certification for applicators and dispensers require successful completion of an exam. A preparatory course is available through home study materials or classroom tutorials.
Individuals may become certified in one or more applicator classes. For detailed official information, read about the pesticide applicator and dispenser certification requirements on the Government of Alberta website.
Pesticide applicator and dispensers who are certified by and in good standing with a regulatory organization elsewhere in Canada may be eligible for certification in Alberta if certified pesticide applicators and dispensers in the two jurisdictions have similar responsibilities and competencies. For more information, see What if I am already certified in another province or territory in Canada? and the Government of Alberta website.
Alberta Environment and Parks
Government of Alberta
9th Floor, South Petroleum Plaza 9920 108 Street
Edmonton, Alberta T5K 2G8
Canada
Call: 780-538-6460
Toll-free within Alberta: 310-3773, then 780-538-6460
Toll-free outside Alberta: 780-944-0313
Website: www.alberta.ca/environment-and-parks.aspx
Most market gardeners are self-employed small business owners. They sell produce directly to consumers through several venues. These include farmers’ markets, farm gate sales, and pick-your-own operations. Large market garden operations may hire retail and farm workers. They mostly do this on a seasonal basis. These positions can provide valuable experience for people interested in becoming market gardeners.
New gardeners are advised to start with small operations. They should grow crops that are relatively easy to cultivate and suited to local growing conditions. As they gain experience and learn customer preferences, they can expand to more diverse and demanding crops. They can also add novelty items to round out their operations.
Advancement in this occupation most often takes the form of building a larger business.
Market gardeners are part of the larger 2011 National Occupational Classification 0821: Managers in agriculture. In Alberta, 97% of people employed in this classification work in the Agricultural (pdf) industry.
The employment outlook (pdf) in this occupation will be influenced by a wide variety of factors including:
Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.
In Alberta, the 0821: Managers in agriculture occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of -0.8% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, -219 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.
Substantial profits are one of the most appealing features of market gardening. Gardeners can reap a lot from a small amount of land. Moreover, input costs for machinery often are minimal. This makes overhead costs lower than for other types of farming. However, much depends on the weather, market demand, and grower management and experience. In general, market garden crops are more weather sensitive than traditional crops.
Market gardeners often supplement their income through other means. Creativity is an asset. With ongoing improvements to storage techniques, growers can keep storable crops and sell them during the winter months. This is a good way to provide some year-round income. Some smaller operations earn a secondary income from the sale of related goods. For example, they may sell bedding plants or value-added products such as preserves.
| Wages* | Low (5th percentile) | High (95th percentile) | Average | Median |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Starting | $15.00 | $50.00 | $25.98 | $23.00 |
| Overall | $19.04 | $57.69 | $31.36 | $28.85 |
| Top | $20.81 | $61.20 | $34.45 | $31.67 |
Swipe left and right to view all data. Scroll left and right to view all data.
* All wage estimates are hourly except where otherwise indicated. Wages and salaries do not include overtime hours, tips, benefits, profit shares, bonuses (unrelated to production) and other forms of compensation.
Good Reliability, represents a CV of between 6.01% and 15.00% and/or fewer than 30 survey observations and/or if survey observations represent less than 50% of all estimated employment for the occupation.
| Public Administration | $83,777 |
|---|---|
| ALL INDUSTRIES | $70,992 |
| Agriculture | $69,863 |
Alberta Agriculture and Forestry website: www.alberta.ca/ministry-agriculture-forestry.aspx
Alberta Farm Fresh Producers Association website: albertafarmfresh.com
Alberta Greenhouse Growers Association website: agga.ca
Canadian Nursery Landscape Association (CNLA) website: cnla.ca
Organic Alberta website: organicalberta.org
Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.
Updated Mar 31, 2019. The information contained in this profile is current as of the dates shown. Salary, employment outlook, and educational program information may change without notice. It is advised that you confirm this information before making any career decisions.