West Virginia Farm Jobs
Directory of Farms, Orchards, etc
Note: The information below is simply a list of farms, growers, or orchards in the area. Being listed below does not necessarily mean that they are currently looking to hire labor.
| Arnold Farm HC 66, Box 20, Romney, WV 26757 304-822-3603 Harvest Time: July – October Main Crops: Pumpkins, Corn, Beans |
Blueberry Hill 2524 Flat Top Egeria Rd, Flat Top, WV 25841 304-787-3930 Harvest Time: July – August Main Crops: Blueberries |
| Blueberry Ridge Farms 714 Venture Dr, Morgantown, WV 26508 304-296-0380 Harvest Time: May – July Main Crops: Organic Blueberries |
Breezy Heights Farm 2159 Stringtown Rd, Union, WV 24983 304-772-5175 Harvest Time: April – November Main Crops: Apples, Peas, Asparagus, Squashes, Beets, Broccoli, Rhubarb, Melons, Cucumbers, Eggplants, Okra, Herbs, and Other Assorted Organic Fruits and Vegetables |
| Byrnside Branch Farm HC 76, Box 3A, Union, WV 24983 304-772-3131 cornmaze@westvirginia.com Harvest Time: September – November Main Crops: Lettuce, Pumpkins, Squashes, Gourds, Corn, Broccoli, Potatoes, and Other Assorted Vegetables and Fruits |
Church View Farm HC 64, Box 2027, Romney, WV 26757 304-822-3878 Harvest Time: June – September Main Crops: Blueberries, Blackberries, Strawberries, Spinach, Peppers, Beans, Tomatoes, Squashes, and Other Seasonal Vegetables and Fruits |
| Cold Run Valley Berry Farm 4262 Cold Run Valley Rd, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411 304-258-2828 Harvest Time: May – August Main Crops: Blueberries, Strawberries, Blackberries |
Daniel Vineyards 200 Twin Oaks Rd, Crab Orchard, WV 25827 304-252-9750 dvine@danielvineyards.com Harvest Time: August – October Main Crops: Organic Grapes |
| Floral Acres Rt 1, Box 26E, French Creek, WV 26218 304-924-6462 Harvest Time: June – August Main Crops: Fresh Blueberries |
Fruity Farm 6969 Ravenswood Rd, Ravenswood, WV 26164 304-273-5001 Harvest Time: July – August Main Crops: Blackberries |
| Gritt’s Farm 356 Gritt Rd, Buffalo, WV 25033 304-937-2565 Harvest Time: April – November Main Crops: Tomatoes, Apples, Nectarines, Berries, Grapes, Peaches, Cherries, and Other Assorted Vegetables and Fruits |
Hartley Farms Rt 2, Box 5, Cottageville, WV 25239 304-372-6993 Harvest Time: May – October Main Crops: Beets, Cabbages, Pumpkins, Strawberries, Tomatoes, Squashes, Beans, Onions, and Other Organic Fruits and Vegetables |
| Heavenly Berry Farm of West Virginia 8927 Scott Fork Bonnie Rd, Exchange, WV 26619 304-765-2281 Harvest Time: July – August Main Crops: Organic Blackberries, Raspberries |
Herot Hall Farms 875 Divide Ridge Rd, Kenna, WV 25248 304-993-7799 Walter.Moore@herothall.com Harvest Time: June – August Main Crops: Organic Blueberries |
| Itty Bitty Farms 124 Grandview Ridge, Red House, WV 25168 304-586-3276 Harvest Time: September – October Main Crops: Pumpkins, Gourds, Other Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables |
La Paix Herb Farm 3052 Crooked Run Rd, Alum Bridge, WV 26321 304-269-7681 lapaix@hughes.net Harvest Time: June – August Main Crops: Lavender, Tomatoes |
| Little Patch on the Lane 301 Teays Ln, Teays Valley, WV 25526 304-541-1649 Harvest Time: September – October Main Crops: Pumpkins, Gourds, Herbs |
Morgan Orchard Neff Orchard Rd, Box 114, Sinks Grove, WV 24976 304-772-3638 Harvest Time: June – December Main Crops: Apples, Pears, Berries, Plums, Peaches, Cherries, and Other Seasonal Fruits |
| Orr’s Farm Market 682 Orr Dr, Martinsburg, WV 2540 304-263-1168 info@orrsfarmmarket.com Harvest Time: May – October Main Crops: Pumpkins, Strawberries, Cherries, Blueberries, Grapes, and Other Assorted Fruits and Vegetables |
Ridgefield Farm & Orchard 414 Kidwiler Rd, Harpers Ferry, WV 25425 304-876-3647 Harvest Time: May – October Main Crops: Apples, Strawberries, Pumpkins, Corn |
| Shady Oaks Blueberry Farm RR 1, Box 209, Poca, WV 25159 888-304-5638 shadyoaksfarm@aol.com Harvest Time: June – August Main Crops: Blueberries, Raspberries |
White Oak Farm 418 Brownstown Rd, Renick, WV 24966 304-497-3577 whiteoakfarm@cisinternet.net Harvest Time: May – July Main Crops: Blueberries, Raspberries |
Working in West Virginia
Home of the fabled Mountaineers, West Virginia boasts a rich history dating back to the Civil War when the territory officially became a part of the Union in 1863. Dubbed The Mountain State, the area receives the nickname for widespread prevalence of the Appalachian Mountains across most of the regional topography. The rugged terrain limits much of the traditional agricultural operations found commonly in neighboring seaboard states like Maryland and Virginia as well as states like Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Kentucky in the Midwest. As a result, family-owned specialty farms dominate the industry, with most commodities grown out of personal choice as opposed to economic necessity.
Roughly 21,300 farms maintain residence in the state and lend more than $500 million in annual profits to the gross domestic product. Around 95% of farms operate under the proprietorship of individual families. Small, family operations result in the average income per farm topping out around $10,000. Farms comprise only 23% of The Mountain State, or around 3.6 million acres of a total 15.3 million acres of land available. Most individual operations range between 140 acres and 170 acres, well below the national average of 440 acres. Of the top commodities grown in the state, hay serves as the most and widely raised and profitable crop, with revenues topping $125 million. However, a majority of farmers use the hay grown in the area for personal use. Corn, apples, peaches, and wheat also represent large commodities.
With mountainous terrain and lack of formal organization within the agricultural industry, job seekers looking for farming work in West Virginia still find meaningful employment. The northwestern portions of the state along the Ohio River feature some of the most fertile soils for agricultural operations. Eastern Panhandle regions of the state also contain highly arable soils consisting of rich, silty limestone composites offering excellent drainage and low pH levels. Farms hiring in both areas account for large portions of the nearly 1,500 agricultural jobs for hire statewide. Employment in the industry includes traditional harvesting and cultivation positions as well as opportunities in logging timber, processing goods, and shipping finished products. The West Virginia Department of Agriculture (WVDA) serves as the governing body for the industry. Workers may find opportunities available through the WVDA or simply inquire about entry-level jobs onsite at local farms.
One program in particular called Homegrown by Heroes acts as a link between inactive military service personnel and Mountain State farms. Retired or discharged former members of the military may apply for job placement on any farming operation throughout the state, with direct oversight and guidance from the WVDA. Employment also remains widely available to migrant workers or seasonal pickers looking for part-time positions. A typical rancher or farmhand earns between $9.00 and $11.00 per hour in West Virginia. Advancement into foreman, supervisor, or administrative roles result in higher salary options reaching in excess of $38,000 a year. Employment hopefuls must generally work for the state in some capacity in order to receive job benefits packages, due to the smaller scale of the industry in the area.