Farmworkers, Blackberry Harvesters

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, cultivate, harvest and grade and field pack blackberries by hand. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears and knives. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting, weeding, thinning or pruning crops. May contruct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities.

Walk through assigned row while bending and reaching to pick ripe blackberries by hand without bruising or damaging the fruit or bush. Workers must use care to pick bushes clean of all berries of the correct color and size that are suitable for shipment to fresh fruit markets, as instructed by their supervisor. Green and red berries must not be picked.

Blackberries will be picked, graded and packed into clam shell containers in flat trays according to supervisor's instructions ensuring that there are no leaks. Once flat trays of clamshells are full, workers will carry two or three trays at one time to trailers located in the fields at the end of the rows where fruit is inspected for quality and weight. Blackberries may also be harvested into five gallon buckets which are then carried to the end of the rows for inspection and dumping.

Blackberries for fresh fruit markets must not be picked when wet. Workers must continuously check harvested berries when placing into clamshells or buckets. Defective and low quality fruit will not be accepted and must be discarded. Defective berries include, but are not limited to those that are green, red or leakers. Buckets and trays will be inspected to insure berries are free of defects, and if accepted, workers will have their card scanned for each completed flat. Workers must harvest fruit of desired size, ripeness and use care when harvesting not to damage berries or bushes.

Clean fields when harvest activities are complete. Workers will walk down rows, bending to prune and remove floricanes that are done producing fruit and tipping runners using hand pruners. Primocanes will be left unharmed by the removal process. Pruned canes will be piled in row middles. Workers must have a general understanding of how pruning affects competition with fruiting canes as instructed by supervisor. Improper pruning can cause problems with fruit load, fruit size, disease severity, and overall production.

Hoe fields and weed crops. Long sleeve shirts and pants are recommended when harvesting and pruning to reduce skin irritation and scratches caused by thorns, branches and leaves. Assist with Good Agricultural Practices policies.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

Special Requirements

One month of farmwork experience required. Work involves walking, bending, stooping, reaching, twisting, lifting, carrying and loading up to 20 lbs. repeatedly. Physical stamina and hand dexterity required. Work is outside in extremely hot, cold, humid and/or wet conditions for extended periods of time.