Farm Worker

Job description

General job requirements
This job requires a minimum of 3 months of agricultural field work experience in tree fruit, vegetable, cultivated greens, and niche grain production, performing manual tasks, including handling ladders. Other general tasks include digging, weeding fields, ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Workers must be able to perform manual tasks with accuracy and efficiency. All workers will be subject to a trial period of up to five days during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks.

Crops/Commodities:
Pears, apples, cherries, peaches, berries, vegetables, flowers, cultivated greens, and niche grain.

Crop Monitoring:
Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields, or costs. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Record information about plants and plant growth.

Planting:
Plant seedlings or 'liners' by hand or with mechanical planter. Clear cull stock, brush and debris. Dig holes and shovel dirt. Dig, cut, and transplant seedlings, cuttings, trees, and shrubs. Sow grass or cover crop seed, or plant plugs of grass. Dig, rake, and screen soil, to prepare beds in preparation for planting.

Tree/Vine/Plant Training:
Hoeing, weeding, painting, weed mat and grow wrap application. Tie/position trees and limbs, together and to trellises, using string, tape, wire or other fasteners and supports.

Irrigation and Climate Control Systems:
Set up and operate irrigation and climate control (frost protection) equipment. Maintain and repair irrigation and climate control (frost protection) systems. Regulate outdoor irrigation systems. Maintain inventory, ordering materials as required.

Thinning:
Hand thin to control the size and quality of fruit. Remove fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Must accurately identify and remove misshapen, damaged or otherwise unmarketable fruit.

Pest Control:
Trap and destroy pests, such as moles, gophers, and mice, using pesticides. Feel plants' leaves and note their coloring to detect the presence of insects or disease. Cut/remove diseased plants or plant material.

Fresh Cut Flowers, Dried Flowers, Cut Cultivated Greens, Grain:
Harvest flowers, grain, and cultivated greens by hand. Select and cut/clip stems and small branches. Tie and bunch flowers, grain, cultivated greens, plants, shrubs, and trees, wrap their roots, hang to dry, and pack them into bins, lugs, boxes or crates to store or fill orders.

Pruning:
Hand pruning based on fruit variety. Use manual and mechanized pruning tools and equipment. Identify different purposes for branches in the tree: structural verses fruit production then trim, renew, or remove using the proper type of cut. Remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches rubbing against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots-suckers.

Harvest:
Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand. Spot and/or strip pick based on seasonal need. Snap fruits/vegetables off tree/vine/plant with thumb and palm of hand, or thumb and index finger to avoid stem pulls, punctures, bruising, or other damage. Identify defects (bird pecks, limb rubs, splits, sunburn) and other damage. Pick culls and peelers. Fill buckets/bags and place fruit in bins. Follow supervisor/foreman's instructions on fruit quality and color/size requirements. Must be able to differentiate between colors, sizes, and varieties accurately.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of 3 month of agricultural field work experience in tree fruit performing manual tasks, including handling ladders. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid post-hire drug testing required post-accident and upon suspicion.