Workers prune fruit trees in Pereaux, N.S., on Friday, April 22, 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan
The federal government is providing $50 million to help farmers and food processors cover the costs associated with mandatory quarantine rules for workers coming in from outside the country.
Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau says the labour shortage on farms is acute and depends on foreign temporary workers.
But rules designed to prevent the spread of COVID-19 mean this year's incoming workers must quarantine for 14 days.
Bibeau says employers are committed to making sure workers follow those rules but they do come at a cost.
She says the money is designed to help offset those and will give employers $1,500 per worker to help put quarantine measures in place.