November marks the end of Vermont’s apple season, a time when hundreds of Jamaican orchard workers typically prepare to head back home. But after Hurricane Melissa, this year is anything but typical. The Category 5 storm sawed across Jamaica last week, destroying buildings and roads, killing dozens of people, and knocking out electricity.
In response, several Vermont orchards and other farms have banded together to raise money for their Jamaican workers, some of whom have been coming to the Green Mountain State each year for decades. About 450 Jamaicans arrive to work in agriculture under H-2A/H-2B visas, according to the Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets.
“This is about love, community, and reciprocity,” Bill Suhr, owner of Champlain Orchards, said in a statement. “Our connection with Jamaica is woven into every harvest. Vermont’s orchard community stands shoulder-to-shoulder with our Jamaican friends as they rebuild.”
The Shoreham-based operation is one of six involved in a donation effort that had raised more than $66,000 as of Tuesday evening for the approximately 190 Jamaican workers they collectively employ.
Paul Mazza’s Farm, which has 23 workers from Jamaica, had raised about $73,000 in a separate effort. Others, too, are raising money.
“They’ve given so much of themselves to help this farm thrive and to feed our neighbors and now they need their community to stand behind them,” Mazza said on his GoFundMe campaign.
All eight Jamaican workers at Scott Farm Orchard in Dummerston have learned that their homes, properties or farms were damaged, according to Jeremy Ebersole, the public outreach manager for the orchard. The longest-tenured worker has come for 31 years, and many spend up to six months working in Vermont.
“It is absolutely true that the work cannot be done without them,” Ebersole said.
The Jamaicans initially had trouble getting in touch with family because of the devastation, Ebersole said. They are anxious to get home and help rebuild.
“It’s meaningful,” Ebersole said of the money raised. “It’s been amazing to see the response so far.”
For a list of fundraisers, visit the Vermont Tree Fruit Growers Association website.
The original print version of this article was headlined “One Love”
This article appears in Nov 5-11 2025.