Farm Worker

Job description

Job Description: The worker will perform job duties as assigned by supervisor. They will vary from time to time depending on crop ripening and weather. The harvesting and packing of said crops are temporary and will last from March to October

Watermelon/Melon/Bean: - Hand Harvesting-In order to perform this kind of work, the worker must be able to walk down the field row and use a knife to hand cut crops off the vine for harvesting.
• Watermelon/Melon: The crops are then loaded in a bus by forming part of an assembly line, in which the first worker bends down picks up the crop and it is passed on to consecutive workers by passing, catching, lifting, until it reaches the worker on the bus, who then sets it down and stacks them until the bus is considered full.
• Beans are picked and placed in basket and loaded onto truck.

Watermelon/Melon/Bean Packing- Crops are transported by bus to the packing shed. Upon its arrival, it is unloaded by a group of workers and placed on a conveyer belt. The group of workers on the conveyer belt are responsible for sorting, labeling, and packing the crops in cardboard containers. While the workers are waiting for the next load of crop to arrive, they will be responsible for assembling cardboard containers.

More specifically the job duties include:
• Helping with land preparation and setting transplants
o Ride on mechanical transplanter machine and place transplants in designated slots.
o Use shovel to secure edges of plastic mulch.
• Installing and maintaining irrigation system components
o Lay out hoses and connect them to drip tape. Monitor system throughout the season for leaks and necessary maintenance.
• Harvesting watermelons, melons, beans
o Cut produce from vine, carry to truck, load onto truck, and pack at warehouse. Beans are to be picked in basket and loaded onto truck.
• Cutting and/or raking hay and tending to other row crops
o Operating tractor-pulled shredder (as for pasture shredding)
• (End of harvest) Retrieving irrigation components
o Roll up lay-flat hoses, gather aluminum pipe segments for storage, and pull up buried drip tape for disposal.
• Repairing fences
o Tighten wires, set new crosstie posts and intermediate posts, and repair as necessary.
• Facility and janitorial maintenance
o Run "weed eater" around fences, warehouse and offices. Clean, straighten up, sweep and perform various janitorial duties around warehouses.
• Loading/unloading products weighing up to approximately 60 lbs.
• Ability to work outside in high and/or freezing temperatures.

Estimate of time spent on crop and work activities/duties:
• Land preparation and setting transplants – 20%
• Installing and maintaining irrigation system – 25%
• Harvesting – 15%
• Retrieving irrigation system – 15%
• Fence repair – 15%
• Other – 10%

All tools and transportation will be provided by the Employer

Special Requirements

At least 3 workers must have valid driver's license or willing to obtain driver's license within 90 days of arrival to work site.
At least 3 workers must have ability to understand and speak English.
Melon or fruit growing/harvesting experience preferred.