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Clutching her travel documents, Tedesha Rankin wore a bright smile as she got ready to board the Ministry of Labour and Social Security bus at its East Street office in Kingston, bound for the Norman Manley International Airport.

The Trelawny native was among 95 Jamaicans - including 15 women - who departed the island yesterday for Toronto, Canada, under the Canadian Seasonal Agricultural Workers Programme.

Rankin, who has participated in the programme for the past eight years, told THE STAR that being part of the farmwork programme has made a meaningful difference in her life.

"It benefit me a lot because I have two kids and is it send them to school. It is very difficult to leave my children, but they are in good hands with their father. I still manage to keep up with their school activities and so on though," she said.

Rankin, who picks strawberries on Canadian farms, admitted the job isn't always easy, especially when working in extreme weather conditions. Still, she remains focused on the bigger picture.

"It's not easy but I have to do what needs to be done. We are not used to the changing climate and there are times when it is really hot and another time cold bad but I rather work in the cold because sun is like no other. But other than that I really love what I do as it pays the bills," Rankin said.

Among those making the journey alongside her was Shian Morgan, a mother of four. She recalled jumping at the opportunity when it first came her way.

"In 2018 mi get one ticket and mi jump on it and mi a tell yuh say the first year was rough as it relates to the weather and everything, but after a while I get use to it. For some, it will just seem like farming strawberries, but for me it's a big help and it fill a big gap. Only downfall is that sometimes I have to leave my children and it takes a big toll on me and them," Morgan said.

Minister of Labour and Social Security Pearnel Charles Jr praised the initiative, noting that it has positively impacted countless families across the island.

"When one person travels on a programme they are usually travelling for an entire family. The programme has really expose persons to a different work environment and provided a stable for making a revenue. They have utilize that to send children to school and to build their homes. Some persons have even contributed to their community," Charles Jr said.

He commended the workers for representing Jamaica with pride on the international stage.

"The farm workers have not only gained but they have given and they literally are the face of Jamaica. They are many persons who live overseas who only know Jamaica through the attitude of the farm workers through their performance, conversations, patois and cooking," he added.