General Tree Fruit

Job description

Job duties under our General Tree Fruit Worker contract will consist of activities associated with ONET Job Description 45-2092: Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse.

Some General Labor duties would be to help the establishment and maintenance of orchard properties by clearing property, planting trees, harvesting nursery trees, building trellis, setting up, installing shade netting, and any other labor considered necessary for the efficient and safe operation of orchard properties.

While performing all of the following duties, Workers will be expected to conform to the specific instructions provided each day by the supervisory staff, according to established company procedures accounting for difference in the treatment of different varieties and instructions based on market, fruit condition and operational demands. Time spent in this activity will depend on ranch location and seasonality.

Pruning apple, pear and cherry trees and grape vines and blueberry bushes using handheld pruning shears or larger pruning loppers. Remove specific branches and sections of tree based on supervisory instruction by clipping off with shears, or loppers. Arrange all pruned tree branches in the center of the drive row for removal. Pruning of trees may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs.
• Training apple and cherry trees and grape vines and blueberry bushes to a trellis – take young tree limbs or vines and attach them to wire using special tape, wood spacers or other provided fastener at specific intervals based on supervisory instruction. Training of trees may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs.
• Grape training may involve tying of the young plant to the center training stake; braiding of the two buds of the plant to the stake and then to the wire; or training the vine shoots down onto the primary wire to establish the permanent cordon. These are just a few of the variables that can impact the piece rate pay for grape training.
• Thinning apple, cherry, grapes, blueberry and pear trees – remove small, undersized and/or damaged fruit from tree according to supervisor instructions, using care not to harm tree buds in the process. Thinning of trees may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs.
• Picking numerous varieties of cherries – remove cherry from tree, place cherry into bucket, empty completed bucket into bin.
• Picking numerous varieties of apples – remove apple from tree, depending on variety, use of clippers is required to remove stem. Place apple into 50lb picking bag, empty completed bag into bin.
• Picking numerous varieties of pears – remove pear from tree place pear into picking bag, empty completed bag with care into bin.
• Picking numerous varieties of blueberries – remove blueberry from bush, place blueberry into bucket, take completed bucket to crew leader.
• Picking numerous varieties grapes- using clippers, clip grape bunch off vine, place into tote, empty completed tote into bin.
• Worker will pick according to grade, color and size and remove fruit in a manner so as to not harm the adjacent front spurs on the tree branches or physically damage fruit that is being harvested. Picking may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform.
• Grape vine care, including removing excess leafing, placing grow tubes and moving wires according to supervisor instruction.
• Young tree care, including hoeing, trunk painting, and hand fertilizing.

Special Requirements

Workers must have one month experience in tree fruit.

Use of ladders up to 12 feet in height is required for pruning and irrigation. Workers must possess proficiency in handling ladders, climbing and working on ladders safely. Workers will be expected to use all equipment in a safe and prudent manner to avoid injury. Workers must not lean ladders into trees, lean off to one side of the ladder, or stand on the last two steps of the ladder. Workers must not climb tree and should use a ladder. If a Worker is unsure of how to use a ladder safely, he or she must notify a crew leader or supervisor.

Workers must have the ability to perform the task of pruning fruit trees. As described in Item A8a-A11 Job specifications.


See ADDENDUM C