Farm Laborer

Job description

The farm worker position includes duties associated with the harvesting and packing of watermelons and potatoes. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 75 pounds for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. It also includes making important decisions based on size, coloring, and ripeness according to prescribed standards. This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, team-based attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and of the consumers who will purchase and consume the fresh produce grown, harvested, packed, and shipped from the farm.

Job Specifications
Watermelons: Workers will be required to turn watermelon vines from drive rows,
cut ripe melons, and harvest the cut melons. Instruction will be given for each task and standards of performance communicated to worker. Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness. They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. Workers will unload containers at the packing shed and place fruit onto a conveyer belt to grade and then pack the fruit into boxes. Workers visually grade harvested produce and remove culls. Workers need to use both hands while grading at all times. Workers pack the graded produce in appropriate containers by hand. Filled boxes and cartons are stacked carefully by prescribed pattern and height onto pallets and secured by netting or tape. Workers may be required to operate forklifts and tractors after having been instructed on how to safely operate said machinery.

Potatoes: Grading will be done by working carefully remove any leaves and defective pieces as defined by grading supervisor as potatoes move across grading belt/tables. Potatoes must be handled carefully to avoid bruises or fingernail cuts. Fillers: workers will bag the graded fruit in paper bags or appropriate containers by hand as necessary according to packing instructions disclosed by the supervisor. Workers will stack paper bags onto pallets once full.

Workers may also be required to remove old or damaged plastic and irrigation drip tape along with any other trash, rocks or debris from the planting areas. Workers will assist in preparation of field areas prior to installation of new plastic and drip tape. Workers will also be responsible for irrigation installation, shovel work, weed pulling and plastic installation to ensure the health of the crops.

Farm and Field Sanitation: Workers may be responsible for picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, and other similar farm sanitation as part of SOPs and SSOPs within Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Handling Practices (GHPs), and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for Food Safety. This includes personal hygiene and handling the fruit in the field with an emphasis on food safety, sanitizing all harvesting tools and keeping the fields as clean as possible. Workers may be responsible for pulling plastic, picking up trash, cleaning bins and other similar farm sanitation.