Farmworker/laborer

Job description

General Farm Labor:
Orchard/Field Clearing: Worker will conduct tasks associated with process of clearing orchard or field. Worker will use shovel to pry stones from ground and carry rocks to trailer to be removed from field/orchard. Worker will assist in removing trash, debris, roots, branches, trees, old string, and wire from trellis orchard blocks and rocks from cleared field or orchard. Some workers will drive tractor, with trailer attached, to remove debris from field/orchard or use a brownie.

General Orchard Maintenance: Worker cares for young non-producing fruit trees including weeding, hoeing, trunk painting, hand fertilizing, and growth selection by hand and clipping. Maintain pre-set grafting throughout season. Worker cares for existing orchard by removing stones/rocks with shovel, cleaning up debris and other hand tasks. Worker places straw or mulch around base of tree with hands or pitchfork. Worker may use hand tools such as chainsaw, pole saw, shovel, auger, and pitchfork.

Pruning: Worker will prune numerous fruit tree varieties, in accordance with the established company procedures. Each variety may be pruned differently. Worker performs pruning on trees for long periods of time using a variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, electric pruners, hydraulic pruners and up to a 16’ ladder. Pruning and thinning may be done from ground or with up to a 16’ ladder or from motorized platforms or Brownies. Worker may be required to selectively prune only certain size and color trees as instructed by Employer. Worker must possess or acquire pruning skills in order to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood, shoots/suckers, and root suckers. Pruning selected caliper branches/limbs may be removed and young leader selection will be performed with hand pruning saws and clippers.

Trunk painting: Painting the trunks of fruit trees using a paint & paint brush. This job is done manually and includes stooping down and carrying 5-gallon bucket of paint.

Weeding: Worker may be required to keep orchard/field weed free by hand or use of hand equipment such as a hoe. Worker will use weed whacker around farm buildings.

Attaching, tying & spreading trees: Trees will be attached, trained and positioned to the trellis system. This will include clipping, tying or spreading limbs and shoots to wire from ground or up to 16’ ladder or from motorized platform.

Wildlife deterrence: Worker will hang dryer sheets from fruit trees, tie reflective ribbon on trees, attach pheromone ties or other hand tasks associated with wildlife deterrence.

Apple Hand thinning: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Worker must possess ability to pick up and handle 16ft orchard ladder weighing 70 pounds. Worker removes smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within fruit cluster. Worker identifies and removes misshapen, damaged and/or other not quality fruit as directed by Supervisor.

Tree replants: Worker will use shovel or auger to plant trees in existing orchards where old or dead trees need to be replaced. Worker will pull established trees with strap and install support poles to help straighten tree.

Tree removal: Worker will conduct tasks associated with process of clearing orchard. Manual and heavy machinery will be used.

Irrigation maintenance: Worker will be required to check and maintain all working components of irrigation system which include irrigation lines, micro sprinklers, headers, mainlines, valves, any other irrigation equipment. Workers will be required to fix leaks as directed by supervisor.

Special Requirements

Job requires worker to complete tasks in farm equipment operation, general farm labor, planting and hand harvest of Apples. Employer will provide instructions and training on specific job duties.

Experience Requirement: 2 verifiable months of commercial fruit and/or vegetable hand harvest experience required. Applicants must furnish job references from employers of the last 3 years establishing acceptable prior experience. Employer reserves right to conduct for cause, non-discriminatory drug testing at employer expense. Drug test will not be utilized as pre-employment tool.