General Farm Workers

Job description

*All packing and stacking duties will be performed in the field and on the farm*

Commodities to harvest and pack: Strawberries

Strawberry Harvester (Ground/Harvest): This position works under close supervision of the harvest crew foreperson. This position safely and efficiently harvests strawberry crop by ground. This position may perform other general labor work

Essential Job Duties:

• Harvests fresh, juice and / or freezer depending on grower requests
• Properly grades and sorts strawberries according to size and quality
• Packages suitable fruit in required packaging container and box;
• Inspects strawberry fruit for signs of disease and insect manifestation
• Discards inferior strawberries onto row floor
• Reports all safety problems, incidents, and injuries to foreman immediately.
• Complies with all Company Policies, including observing appropriate lunch and rest periods.

Qualifications:

• Overtime Work as needed.
• Able to keep up at a reasonable pace with the rest of the crew
• Able to read safety signs
• Able to perform work up to company standards

Physical Requirements:

• The employee is constantly required to stand, walk, reach, use hands/fingers to handle or feel, hear and see.
• The employee is constantly required to push, pull, lift and carry from 1 lb up to 25 lbs., with occasional lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs.
• Occasional reaching above shoulder with frequent reaching below shoulder level.
• The employee is in constant bending and twisting of the waist, with frequent squatting.

Working environment:

• The employee is constantly required to work in outside atmospheric weather conditions, uneven ground, and noise, vibration, around hazards such as moving machine parts, equipment, wet rows, wind and dust.
• The employee is occasionally required to work under cold temperatures just above freezing and heat.

Cut Runners: Cut Runners is responsible for manually removing the small plant nodes “runners” that are attached to the long stem that grows from the original plant. This is a non-managerial position and works under the close supervision of the crew foreperson.

Essential Job Duties:

• Removes strawberry runners using both hands.
• Complies with all Company Policies, including observing appropriate lunch and rest periods.
• Use of hand tools such as scissors or knife to cut runners

Qualifications:

• Able to follow verbal direction
• Able to follow safety and conduct rules

Physical Requirements:

• The employee is constantly required to walk, push and pull with both hands, required to bend at waist. Constantly bending and twisting neck, repetitive grasping and fine manipulation with both hands, and reaching below shoulder level.
• The employee is frequently required to stand and power grasp with both hands with frequent squatting and kneeling.
• The employee is occasionally required to lift and carry up to 25 lbs.

Working Environment:

• The employee is constantly required to work in outside weather conditions, uneven ground, wet rows, and dust.

Special Requirements

Minimum Job Qualifications: Three months experience in berry harvest is required. Work is performed in open fields and may involve exposure to mud, dust, wind, heat, cold, and other natural elements. Temperatures can range from 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 100 degrees Fahrenheit during the period of employment. Workers should come prepared with appropriate clothing and footwear for the environmental and working conditions described. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing. Ability to communicate in English or Spanish is required for training and safety purposes. (i.e. Workers must listen to, understand and follow instructions of Employer supervisors and managers.)