Farmworker/laborer

Job description

Pear Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest pears this can be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or a ladder. The worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and picks low hanging fruit while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. The Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the hands and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. The Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 60 lbs. and will place fruit into wooden bins, 47 X 47 X 24 which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. The Workers may be required to examine harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. The worker must possess the ability to pick-up; handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing up to 40 pounds.

Other Job Specifications Include: 1. Picking numerous varieties of pears according to established company procedures accounting for difference in the treatment of different varieties. 2. Hand harvesters may be required to selectively pick only fruit of a certain color and/or size as instructed by the supervisor. 3. Hand Harvesters will be required to handle fruit carefully and not bruise or damage fruit when it is placed in the bin. 4. Observation of bruised, damaged or cull fruit by the supervisor will result in a bad bin mark and after three bad bin marks, the workers will receive disciplinary action up to and including termination. A bad bin mark occurs when a bin is inspected and a significant number of culls, bruised or damaged are found by the supervisor. 5. Farm clean up tasks to include picking up garbage around the orchard, removing old string and wire from trellis and orchard blocks, and other hand tasks. 6. Safety sets and use ladders. Much of the picking will be done from an aluminum ladder up to 12 feet in height. 7. Hand tools, such as pruning hooks, shears, and/or picking will be utilized.

Special Requirements

Three months of tree fruit experience required. There are general conditions of employment, general job specifications and individual requirements that are specific to each job duty. This type of work, involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina, a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain. The work requires a high level of physical conditioning. Drug testing may be conducted post-employment and at the expense of the employer as stated in accordance with Departmental regulations at 20 CFR sec. 6S5.122(b ).