Farmworkers & Laborers

Job description

Pull weeds/chop: Workers will walk along rows as specified by employer and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using a hoe. Prepare soil for planting, plant, transplant, cultivate and harvest crops. Cultivate and hand harvest broccoli, watermelon, and sweet potato. Load and unload crops and farm materials. May operate and perform minor maintenance and repairs on farm vehicles, implements and equipment. May repair fences, greenhouses, farm buildings and other structures, or perform irrigation activities. Perform farm, field and shed sanitation duties. Mow grass and operate trimmer around farm buildings. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. Operate farm vehicles to haul crops and drive other farmworkers from place to place around the farm properties (including on public roads to reach farmer’s fields) during the workday. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. All workers are required to follow common sanitary practices at all times. This is particularly important when touching crops for human consumption. Workers are required to cleanse their hands by washing thoroughly with soap and water before entering field for harvest activities and after each break. Smoking and the use of tobacco products prohibited during working time.

Hand-harvest melons. Workers will perform assigned duties as instructed by their supervisor. Following the supervisors instructions, workers will walk along rows and cut melons for harvest according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity by using a knife. May carry harvested melons to field truck and load melons on truck or trailer by hand. May unload and pack harvested melons at on-farm packing shed. Workers will not haul or pack melons at a remote shed off the farm.

Sweet potatoes: Workers will stoop, bend and kneel to cut sweet potato plants from beds using only hand pruners supplied by the employer, exercising care in selecting plants of appropriate size as specified by employer. Workers are strictly prohibited from using any knife or blade not supplied by employer. Plants will be cut approximately 1 inch above the soil line with no visible roots showing. Selected plants will be boxed in an orderly fashion in field crates and crates windrowed and loaded on trailers for transport. May ride mechanical transplanter. May walk behind transplanter to reset missing plants. Sweet potato transplanting will be paid hourly. Sweet potato harvest workers will walk along row that has been previously plowed. Workers will stoop, bend and kneel to pick up sweet potatoes using hands and fingers to dig out unexposed potatoes. Workers may grade in the field separating #1’s and #2’s into separated 5/8 field hampers. Canners, when harvested, will be placed into a separate bin. Damaged or diseased potatoes will not be harvested. Worker will be required to stay on assigned row. Full hampers weighing up 35 lbs. will be carried to truck row to be loaded onto truck or trailer. Dumpers may stand on back of field truck and dump harvested potatoes into field bins. Workers may be required to ride mechanical harvester. Workers may be required to perform other duties as required by the employer. Hand harvesting sweet potatoes will be paid on a piece rate. Mechanical harvest work, if any, will be paid hourly.

Special Requirements

Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another workers productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Requires one month verifiable prior farmworker experience in the crop activities listed. Must commit to entire anticipated period of employment. Workers are