Field Workers: Berries Machine & Ground Harvest

Job description

H-2A and corresponding domestic workers must be available to perform each of the following job activities in connection with the harvesting and farming operations:

Field Workers: Berries Machine & Ground Harvest, General Farm Labor / General Farm Maintenance, Indirect Labor (Loader, Scanner/Puncher, Machine Driver), prepare freshly harvested crops for shipment in their original, unmanufactured state to perform the following duties:

Planting/transplanting, plant pruning, spacing, trellising, cleaning, packing, general labor/maintenance, hoeing (long-handled hoe), shovel work, box assembly loading, sucker removal, pot filling, cart/plant loading, plant preparation and packing for shipping, plant loading/unloading, plant transplanting, plant spacing, plant dumping, boxing for shipping, cutting sticking, irrigation assembly and installation, plant harvesting, machine operator, tractor driver, time keeper, puncher/QC, loader, general farm maintenance. All activities are conducted in the field and shed (preparing freshly harvested crops for shipment in their original, unmanufactured state).

Workers will perform duties associated with and directly related to berry harvest work, including but not limited to picking and packing berries in the field for fresh market and freezing/juicing; Distinguish quality and ripeness; Pick, and place in tray / packing containers in the field. Berry ground/table crews will not use a machine aid. Pickers will work on a berry picker machine to aid harvest; working in rows, the worker bends over and picks berries with hands; places the berries in a box and stacks the full boxes on the machine floor, the top of the machine carries the empty boxes; the worker, therefore, does not carry the full boxes to the end of the row. Berry ground/table crews will not use a machine aid; working in rows, the worker bends over and picks berries with hands; places the berries in a box; walks and carries the box with berries to the packing table located at the end of the row in the field. The worker returns to the row to continue ground harvest.

Support Labor: Loader/Stacker: Primary job is to remove the full/filled boxes (flats) from the machine belt and stack in a pallet. The worker is responsible that all boxes are well stacked and ensures there are enough empty boxes (flats) ready in the machine belt, so the pickers have access to them.

Time Keeper: Time Keeper person at the start and end of the work day scans the employee’s ID badge to record their start time and end time. The worker is also responsible for scanning the full/filled boxes to ensure they are accounted for.

Machine Operator:

Mercado: Under the direction of the field supervisor, the worker controls the machine by holding the latch and aligning the spindle to the desired direction. Speed is controlled by a handheld remote. The worker lowers the harvest boxes to pallets. Fills up machine with unfilled boxes to supply harvesting crew. The worker is also responsible for inspecting and sanitizing the machine. When the worker is not doing any of these functions, the worker is also harvesting product.

Colby: Under the direction of the field supervisor, the worker operates the machine using controls. Worker gets on top of the machine's platform and maneuvers the tires to line up with the furrow. The worker controls the speed and the transfer of pallets from one side to the other depending on the supervisor’s instructions. When the machine is set, the worker also stacks up boxes, checks quality and supplies the band with boxes. The worker prepares the machine and does the set up for the next day. Inspects and sanitizes the machine.

General Ranch Maintenance / General Farm Labor includes, but is not limited to, on the farm road maintenance and dust control to farm roadways by means of farm equipment.

Special Requirements

Workers must stand, sit, crouch, bend, reach, lift and carry items weighing up to 50 pounds in the course of performing required activities. Workers must be able to listen, understand, and follow instructions of company supervisors and managers.

The company's Employment Arbitration Agreement is set forth in this Clearance Order outlining the procedures to follow in raising concerns to seek their prompt resolution with an option to arbitrate unresolved matters. The employer assures that its Arbitration Agreement shall not preclude the workers from filing claims with the Americas Job Center of California offices (AJCCs) under the Employment Services Complaint System and the workers will not face retaliation.