Farm Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, cultivate and harvest greens, okra, peas, squash, cucumbers, potatoes, watermelon, and cantaloupe and to harvest blackberries. Operate tractors and tractor-drawn machinery to harvest crops. Harvest hand-cut plants at ground level with knives or shears. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears and knives. Weed, thin and prune crop. Pull weeds or hoe weeds in the field. Workers may cultivate and harvest by hand. Attach farm implements, such as a plow, disc and drill to tractor. Assemble boxes, cartons, crates and containers used for packing products. Clean, pack, stack, label and load harvested product. Grade and sort products according to factors such as size, weight, color, species, length, width, appearance, feel, smell, and quality to ensure correct processing and usage. Discard inferior or defective products and foreign matter and place acceptable products in containers for further processing. Place products in containers according to grade. Stack boxes onto pallets, transport vehicles or trailers. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements and mechanical equipment. Manually dig drainage ditches using a shovel. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Participate in irrigation activities. Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Install drip irrigations. Perform general farm maintenance including painting, repair fences and farm buildings. Workers are also responsible for farm, field and shed sanitation including picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors and other farm and shed sanitation duties. Assist in Good Agricultural Practices Policies. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies. Employer may terminate a worker for cause if the worker's performance consistently and/or substantially fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations (in accordance with the criteria set forth herein), or otherwise engages in serious or egregious misconduct that endangers health, safety, or property. In assessing whether workers' performance meets reasonable expectations, employer evaluates, among other reasonable criteria, whether the worker: (1) has adequately complied with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures; (2) has complied with all health and safety guidelines, including the use of tools or equipment in accordance with best practices to protect the employer's property, crops, and in a manner that avoids injury or damage; (3) has treated company property (tools, equipment, crops, fixtures, etc.

Special Requirements

Three months of farm work experience is required. Work in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather. Perform prolonged walking, pushing, pulling, bending, stooping, reaching, and lifting, carrying and loading up to 50 lbs.