Canadian mushroom growers are asking the federal government for help filling hundreds of jobs.

The growers say federal legislative changes to the Temporary Foreign Worker program mean they are losing experienced workers who must return to their home countries.

Bill Stevens, CEO of Mushrooms Canada, says harvesting is skilled tedious work that growers are unable to fill with a local people.

He says mushrooms are harvested year-round, seven days per week, making mushrooms farms ineligible for the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Programs.

Most mushroom workers are guaranteed minimum wage but may earn up to $20 per hour, based on piecework productivity bonuses.