Farmworkers & Laborers - Crop

Job description

All applicants must be able, willing and qualified to perform the work described in this job description and must be available for the entire period of employment specified in box 3 & 4, page 1. Workers will perform a variety of manual tasks related to the planting, cultivating, and harvesting of apples, strawberries, pumpkins, sweet corn, cherries, and blueberries. Duties include tilling soil, picking stones, transplanting, weeding, hand thinning, tree training and pruning. Workers will sort, pack, and load harvest fruit in the field and level and load fruit to be transported. Workers will use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, running hooks, shears, hand saws, and knives. As the need arises, workers will perform other farm-related duties such as: construct trellises; repair and paint farm buildings; operate tractors and farm equipment for the purpose of tilling soil, mowing grass, cutting brush, planting young trees and plants, moving bin fruit and spraying; apply pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers to crops; record information about crops; inform farmer or farm manager of crop progress; identify plant, pests, and weeds and monitor for disease to assist in determining applications of fertilizers and pesticides; set up and maintain irrigation systems; and repair and maintain farm vehicles. The employer will provide 1 day of training and/or 2 days of work for the worker to reach productivity standards. Harvest productivity must be at least 80¬ bushels per 7 hours worked of bruise-free fruit for fresh market. Workers will be directed to pick all fruit from tree or to selectively pick according to size, color, or crop conditions and state of maturity. Workers may be instructed to selectively pick mature fruit according to size, color, and other USDA grade standards. All fruit must be handled with care to avoid bruising. The orchard foremen will inspect each worker’s picked fruit according to instructions given daily. Workers must be willing to work in varied weather conditions with temperatures from below 0 to 90+ degrees (F) with possible wet mornings. Workers may require to work 7 hours shift between the hours of 7:00am - 7:00pm from Monday through Friday and may require to work 5 hours shift between the hours of 7:00am - 7:00pm on Saturdays. Worker will be given at least 30 minutes for lunch. Beginning and ending times will vary depending on the conditions in the orchard. Workers should report to work in their own suitable clothing. Workers must be able to handle and climb ladders up to 24 feet long and weighing approximately 2 pounds per foot while filling picking buckets weighing up to 40 pounds. Employer will furnish to workers without cost all tools and equipment required to perform all duties assigned. Workers are required to have proficient English language comprehension in order to maintain Federal food safety regulations, pesticide application safety, and safe operation of farm equipment.