Farmworkers & Laborers

Job description

Pull weeds/chop: Workers will walk along rows as specified by employer and remove weeds and grass from fields by hand or using a hoe. Prepare soil for planting, plant, transplant, cultivate and harvest crops. Load and unload crops and farm materials. May operate and perform minor maintenance and repairs on farm vehicles, implements and equipment. May construct trellises or stake plants, repair fences, greenhouses, farm buildings and other structures, or perform irrigation activities. Field grade, sort, or classify berries and vegetables by size, weight, color, or condition. Perform farm, field and shed sanitation duties. Mow grass and operate trimmer around farm buildings. Direct and monitor the work of casual and seasonal help during planting and harvesting. Operate farm vehicles to haul crops and drive other farmworkers from place to place around the farm properties (including on public roads to reach farmer’s fields) during the workday. Though not a hiring requirement, if a worker drives a company vehicle during the period of employment then at the time of operating the company vehicle the driver must possess a valid driver’s license issued by a U.S. state or foreign equivalent and operate the company vehicle in accordance with the license restrictions and vehicle classifications applicable to that license. All workers are required to follow common sanitary practices at all times. This is particularly important when touching crops for human consumption. Workers are required to cleanse their hands by washing thoroughly with soap and water before entering field for harvest activities and after each break. Smoking and the use of tobacco products prohibited during working time.

Pickling Cucumbers: Move along row, stoop and bend to pick all cucumbers ¼ inch in diameter and larger. Discard all jumbo cucumbers (over two inches in diameter) in the row middle and place remaining cucumbers in a 5/8 bushel bucket. Carry full buckets to a nearby truck for dumping, receive ticket or token in emptied bucket and return to assigned row to continue task. Workers must “clean the vines” (pick all cucumbers of marketable size) and larger as specified by employer. Workers will be required to stay on their assigned row. Worker must be careful to avoid damaging vines, blooms and smaller cucumbers. May be required to block and thin cucumbers and perform general cultivation work and move tractors or trucks on the farm incidental to picking. It is extremely important that the workers remove and discard all cucumbers over two inches in diameter from the vine. Workers may be required to perform other duties as required by employer. Hand harvesting pickling cucumbers may be paid on a piece rate.

Tobacco: Harvest workers will move into a row of mature tobacco plants. Each row may be as long as 3,000 feet. The tobacco plant may be from 4 to 6 feet tall and spaced about 20 inches apart in each row. Starting at the bottom of the plant, the worker will bend over at the waist and pick the bottom two or three leaves from each plant. Staying bent over, the worker will move down the row of mature tobacco repeating the above-process. (The bottom leaves may be as low as two inches from the ground.) The worker will place the picked leaves under his arm. Once the worker has gathered an armload of leaves, he will carry it to a field sled. The leaves must be laid neatly onto the field sled. The worker then will return to the row and repeat the process. All workers must be able to distinguish ripe tobacco by observing the color of the leaves. Care must be exercised to prevent breaking of the plants. Workers must be able to move quickly along the rows and move in unison with the field sleds. Worker may ride mechanical transplanter and mechanical harvester. Workers may walk behind transplanter to reset missing plants. Workers must remove all flowering tops and suckers from tobacco plants.

Special Requirements

Prolonged walking, standing, bending, stooping, and reaching. Job is outdoors and continues in all types of weather. Workers may be requested to submit to random drug or alcohol tests at no cost to the worker. Failure to comply with the request or testing positive may result in immediate termination. All testing will occur post-hire and is not a part of the interview process. Negative result may be required post-hire and before commencing work. Must be able to lift 75 lbs. to shoulder height repetitively throughout the workday and able to lift and carry 75 lbs. in field. Must not hinder another workers productivity. Use of personal cell phone or other personal electronic device during working hours strictly prohibited except for work-related calls or emergencies and violation may result in immediate termination. Requires one month verifiable prior farmworker experience in the crop activities listed. Must commit to entire anticipated period of employment. Continued.