Farm Workers

Job description

Perform manual labor to plant, cultivate and harvest strawberries, tomatoes, grape tomatoes, cabbage, yellow and green squash, eggplant, bell peppers, okra, cantaloupe, cucumber, broccoli, cauliflower, greens, onions and watermelon. Plant and cultivate pumpkin and citrus trees. Operate farm equipment, tractor-drawn machinery and self propelled machinery. Use hand tools such as shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears and knives. Keep up with truck that is moving through rows alongside workers. Duties may include tilling soil and applying fertilizers; transplanting; weeding, thinning or pruning crops; cleaning, sorting, grading, counting, checking, packing and loading harvested products. Load and unload produce. Keep cooler stocked. May construct trellises, repair fences and farm buildings, or participate in irrigation activities. Set up and operate irrigation equipment. Operate farm equipment, tractor-drawn machinery and self propelled machinery to plow, harrow, and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops. Repair and maintain farm vehicles, implements and mechanical equipment. Harvest fruits and vegetables by hand. Apply pesticides and herbicides to crops. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Identify plants, pests and weeds to determine the selection and application of pesticides and fertilizers. Clear and maintain irrigation ditches. Record information about crops, such as pesticide use, yields or costs. Workers are also responsible for farm, field and shed sanitation including picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, sweeping floors and other farm and shed sanitation duties. As a minor activity attend to bee hives for pollination.

Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Employer reserves the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but is unwilling to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies. Employer may terminate a worker for cause if the worker's performance consistently and/or substantially fails to satisfy the employer's reasonable expectations (in accordance with the criteria set forth herein), or otherwise engages in serious or egregious misconduct that endangers health, safety, or property. In assessing whether workers' performance meets reasonable expectations, employer evaluates, among other reasonable criteria, whether the worker: (1) has adequately complied with the Work Rules and any other policies or procedures; (2) has complied with all health and safety guidelines, including the use of tools or equipment in accordance with best practices to protect the employer's property, crops, and in a manner that avoids injury or damage;

Special Requirements

Three months of experience in planting and harvesting vegetables is required. Prolonged walking, bending, stooping, reaching, pushing, pulling and lifting and carrying up to 50 lbs. Perform repetitive movements. Work outside in extremely hot, cold and/or wet weather conditions. Employer is a drug and alcohol free workplace. Drug and/or alcohol testing is conducted post-hire at the employer's expense and is not part of the interview process.