Heavy Labor Harvester

Job description

This job description is for heavy labor harvesters working in artisan lettuce, romaine lettuce, mixed lettuce, iceberg lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower.

A member of a heavy labor harvest crew working in artisan lettuce, romaine lettuce, mixed lettuce, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower or cilantro must be able to perform all the responsibilities and general job specifications outlined below:

The employee must work as a member of an artisan lettuce, romaine lettuce, mixed lettuce, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower or cilantro heavy labor harvest crew performing the following tasks in the harvesting of artisan lettuce, romaine lettuce, mixed lettuce, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower or cilantro under the direction of a foreperson or supervisor. Employees shall work under close supervision of a crew leader and receive specific instructions on required tasks and results expected. Employees perform routine tasks that require a limited exercise of judgment to eventually build harvesting skills and efficiencies. Specifically, an employee:

Harvests produce by walking in assigned furrows, on top of growing beds, behind or in front of a harvesting machine platform or harvesting cart, selecting size and quality of the produce to be harvested as specified by the supervisor; Bends and grasps selected produce and cuts it from its roots and or stalks using a harvesting knife; Trims the product or stems according to specifications of supervisor; Discards produce or defective leaves that do not meet specified quality standards; and inserts trimmed, tied, sleeved or banded produce meeting quality specifications into specified packaging or containers and/or places the freshly harvested produce on the table for taping/clipping by the clipper and packing by packer in the field. For cilantro, all the above applies except harvests produce by kneeling on beds next to a harvesting machine or without a harvesting machine.

Must not place produce on the table that does not meet the specifications set forth by the supervisor for the crop being harvested, nor leave un-harvested produce that meets such specifications.

Tapes/Clips/Packs/Ties/Bands product for artisan lettuce, romaine, mix lettuce, iceberg lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower or cilantro seals or clips the plastic wrap and or handles the raw cut product and places it into a packing container for shipment, in the field.

Packers will secure empty containers from designated racks, insert whatever lining might be required, proceed to fill the container with product as directed by a supervisor, and place the container on a conveyor belt or on the furrow, as required to be sealed and ready for palletizing, loading, and shipment to the cooler.

Can work as a Button Operator on any of the harvest machines; Responsible for establishing the speed of the harvest machine at the direction of the Foreperson, lifting or lowering the wings of the harvester, as required, and operating the control panel that allows the Button Operator to perform the above functions and in addition control the carousel speed, water supply and a kill switch to inactivate the harvest machine in an emergency.

The Button Operator may also be used as a safety monitor to assist the Machine Operator to ensure safety when the machines are turning in the fields to begin a new pass and may assist the Machine Operator in opening and closing machines.

Moves cartons weighing from 32-66 pounds, as required.

Cleans-up fields, which may consist of picking up trash, discarding cartons, and any other weed or debris, etc., which will be removed from the field just before, during and after harvest.

Stands on harvest machine platform, closes cartons by taking packed cartons off conveyor belt and seals the finished carton with tape or special locking lids. Moves sealed cartons (approximately 32-66 pounds) to the side for loading on pallets.

Special Requirements

General Specifications:

Employee must stand, sit, crouch, bend, reach, lift and carry items weighing up to 66 pounds in the course of performing required activities. Employees must listen to, understand, and follow instructions of Company row bosses, forepersons, supervisors and managers.

Employees are expected to assist in maintaining work areas and Company property in a neat and clean condition by not littering or in any deliberate way defacing Company property.
Rest and meal periods must be taken in the assigned area(s) for food safety reasons unless an off-site rest or meal period is elected by the employee.