Grader/sorter

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Sweet Corn and Green beans.
Positions sought by this labor certification are in green bean production work. Primary duties will be in the packing house, however workers may be requested to perform field work in order to meet business needs.These job duties are listed in detail below.

Plant, cultivate and harvest vegetables. Use hand tools including, but not limited to: shovels, hoes and knives. Plant roots, seeds and bulbs. Spread plastic or other groundcovering. Clean plastic by hand from ground upon removal. Till soil. Weed and thin plants. Transplant plants by hand. Stake/tie plants, trellis/prune plants, and set poles and wires for vine plants. Pick, cut, lift, or pull crops. Tie vegetables in bunches. Grade, size and field pack product. Take care to prevent damaging produce and plants. Mow, cut, and weed fields. Perform ditching, shoveling, hoeing, hauling, ground preparation, and other manual tasks. Bending, stooping and kneeling required. Use hand tools including but not limited to hoes, shovels, shears, clippers, loppers, and saws. Lift, carry, and load/unload products or supplies. Use power equipment including but not limited to: tractors, planters, mowers, plows, sprayers, cultivators, power shears, chain saws, high lifts, fork lifts, skid loaders. Must operate agricultural equipment safely, with or without direction. Assist with farm building/field maintenance and repairs. Repair fences.

Install/maintain irrigation systems and water lines. Move and install irrigation pipes and equipment. Dig and maintain ditches. Connect irrigation drip tape using scissors, screwdriver and/or tweezers. Check daily for water leaks. Repair water leaks as needed. Disconnect irrigation hoses to avoid disrupting harvesting equipment.

Work is done in the field for long periods of time. Workers may assist in handling product weighing up to 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers must work on their feet in bent positions for long periods of time. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Work required in fields when plants are wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Temperatures in fields during working hours can range from 10 to over 100 degrees F. Workers may be required to work during occasional showers not severe enough to stop field operations. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job.

Workers will stand at a conveyor belt grading green beans. Workers on the bean packing line may grade beans, fill and close containers, weigh containers or stack containers of beans on pallets. Workers may stack crates/RPC/eco boxes or other cases onto pallets.

Excellent manual dexterity is required in both hands to grasp green beans repeatedly throughout the shift. Workers may occasionally empty containers of green beans weighing up to 50 lbs. for packing or disposal purposes. Employees must be able to occasionally lift up to 50 lbs. repeatedly throughout the day. Must be able to work in 34 – 90 degree F work environment or outside temperature. Employees must be able to bend over, reach across the conveyor line, and remove trash from the floor around their work stations. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive standing. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Good vision is required in order to make judgments on product quality throughout the packing process. Employees will be expected to work quickly and efficiently.

Workers may operate a forklift. Workers will palletize, stack, and move product. Load product into the following: hydrocooler, cooler, bin dumper, and refrigerated trailers.

Special Requirements

Positions sought by this labor certification are in green bean production work. To be considered for the jobs, applicants must be willing to work on a vegetable farm handling both manual and mechanized tasks. Workers must be able to perform manual and mechanized tasks with accuracy and efficiency. Prior experience with green beans is desirable, but not required. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Employer-paid pre-employment and post-hire drug testing required.