Farmworker: Diversified (45-2092.00)

Job description

Crops: Peaches, Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Nectarines, Tomatoes, Cucumbers, Squash, Peppers, Watermelon, Cantaloupe, pumpkins, Eggplant

Apples, Peaches, Cherries, Plums, Nectarines and Pears: Workers will perform various tasks involved in planting, cultivation (including pruning, training, and thinning) and harvesting fruit according to supervisor’s instructions. Workers will till soil, plant stock, and do pruning activities using a variety of tools. Workers will aid in irrigation duties. Will aid in minor repair of wooden fruit containers. Workers will harvest fruit according to color, size, and degree of maturity as specified by supervisor and place into 1/2 bushel baskets taking the extra time, care and effort not to bruise or scar the fruit.

Sanitation Requirements: For food and general personal safety purposes, all workers will be required and expected to follow common sanitary practices at all times. This is particularly critical when hand harvesting crops for human consumption. Employees are required to cleanse their hands by washing them thoroughly with soap and water after using the bathroom and before entering the fields for harvest activities or the packing facility for packing operations.

The following description of job activities applies to Peaches, Apples, Pears, Plums, Cherries, Nectarines

Harvest: Workers will be assigned a row usually with a partner and is responsible for picking all the proper fruit from that row, or half row. Fruit is selected from the tree according to size and/or color standard set by the picking supervisor. In some instances, fruit harvest will be done from an 8 or 16-foot ladder weighing up to 30 lbs. All workers must be able to lift and carry ladder, as well as work from the top of the ladder. The entire tree must be checked to ensure removal of all fruit meeting-picking requirements. Fruit is placed gently in the picking container until container is full. The full picking container weighing up to 50 lbs. is then gently emptied into a field bin, taking care not to spill or bruise the fruit in the container or in the field bin. Field bin volume may be checked and determined by weight on state certified scales. Workers are required to stay on their assigned row unless directed by a supervisor to change, or to help someone sporadically. Picking units will be kept free of limbs, leaves, or mushy fruit. Workers will be required to pick up and return picking ladders to the ladder wagon provided by the grower at the end of each workday or as directed by the grower or designated supervisor.

Pruning: While pruning trees, workers will receive the proper tools for the particular job, i.e., saw, pruners and hand snips. The tools will be returned to the employer at the end of the task. The supervisor will set a standard or pattern for each orchard and will demonstrate and communicate this to workers. Workers will be assigned a row of trees and must prune each tree according to the predetermined standard. In some instances, pruning will be done from an 8 or 16-foot ladder weighing up to 30 lbs. All workers must be able to lift and carry ladder, as well as work from the top of the ladder. Workers must remove all resulting materials from the trees rendered from performing pruning tasks. When pruning is complete on each tree, each worker is required to rake and scatter the resulting brush in the center of the tractor/equipment middles. Workers will be required to pick up and return pruning ladders to the ladder wagon provided by the grower at the end of each day or as directed by the grower or designated supervisor.

Special Requirements

Must have three months experience hand harvesting a perishable crop. Applicants must be able to furnish affirmative job references from recent employers operating comparable operations establishing acceptable previous experience. Must be physically able to meet and perform all job specifications stated in job order. Must be able to work in the hot humid weather for extended periods of time. Workers are subject to random drug testing at no cost to the employee. All drug testing will occur after the worker begins his or her employment and is not a part of the interview process. Failing or refusing a drug test will result in immediate termination.