Strawberry Pickers

Job description

JSM Organics, Inc. is a fixed-site grower which owns and/or controls its work site and all agricultural commodities produced at such site. JSM Organics, Inc. is not a Farm Labor Contractor.

The Employer seeks certification for 10 H-2A workers and 48 total workers. Of these 48 total workers, 38 of them are U.S. domestic workers who we anticipate will not require housing.

Strawberry Pickers will perform the following duties:
Strawberries: Work with strawberries; perform strawberry planting/replanting, stripping, road, flower and runner cutting, vine trellising, hoop plastic installation/tear down, sucker removal, cane removal, and removal of old strawberry vines.

Workers will also perform duties associated with and directly related to strawberry harvest work, including but not limited to picking and packing strawberries in the field for fresh market, cannery, and freezing/juicing. Other duties include distinguishing the quality and ripeness of strawberries, pick and place berries in tray/ packing containers in the field. Pickers will work on a berry picker machine to perform harvest duties. Working in rows, the worker bends over and picks berries with hands, places the berries in a box and stacks the full boxes of berries on the machine floor; the top of the machine carries the empty boxes; with the aid of the berry picker machine, the worker does not need to carry the full boxes to stack them at the end of the row. Work involves frequent bending and working in bent or stooped positions. Must be able to walk and stand up extensively and use employer-provided hand tools, including knives.

TRAINING: Workers will be trained for at least 7 days in strawberry picking.

PRODUCTION STANDARDS: Workers must be able to perform the job and its requirements as defined in this clearance order after a reasonable period of on-the job training. We consider 7 days from a worker`s initial date of employment as a reasonable period of on the job training. The production standard includes keeping up with the pace of the harvesting crew in performing the required job duties and at the time the work is performed (approximately 4 to 5 boxes of strawberries per hour). Box dimensions: 20.0x15.8x3.7. Production standards may vary based on the availability and quality of the strawberries.

Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to the primary duties. Such work will be temporary and unsubstantial agricultural labor. Any weeding will be incidental (less than 5% of work duties) done while standing by hand.

Tools and equipment: The Company will provide tools and equipment necessary to perform all required tasks at no cost to the worker. Tools and equipment include knives, hair nets, and gloves if needed to perform the job.

Special Requirements

One month previous experience working with strawberries is required. Employer reserves the right to conduct after-hire, employer-paid random, upon-suspicion, or post-accident drug testing in accordance with state law. Any employee who declines to take or fails a drug test will be immediately terminated.