Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop, Nursery, And Greenhouse
Employer
11711 Fruit Ridge Avenue
Kent City, MI 49330
United States
Job description
FARM LABORER:
1. Pruning: For pruning trees, workers will receive proper tools for the particular job, i.e., saw, pruners and hand snips. These tools will be returned to Employer at the end of the task. The supervisor will set a standard or pattern for each orchard and will demonstrate and communicate this to the workers. Workers will be assigned rows of trees and must prune each tree according to the predetermined standard. Workers must remove all resulting materials from the trees rendered from performing pruning tasks. When pruning is complete on each tree, each worker is required to rake and scatter the resulting brush in the center of the tractor/equipment middles.
In some instances, pruning will be done from an 18-foot ladder weighing up to 36 lbs. All workers must be able to lift and carry the ladder, as well as work from the top of the ladder. When workers use ladders for pruning, workers will be required to pick up and return ladders to the wagon provided by the employer at the end of each work day or as directed by the employer or designated supervisor. Pay will be rate, depending on variety, complexity, size of canopy and height of tree.
2. Orchard Maintenance: Workers involved in orchard maintenance may be required to strip suckers or unwanted growth from trees, knock fruit off the trees and strap and tie trees. Employer will provide all equipment. Instruction will be given for each task and standards of performance communicated to workers. The specific standards for a job will be disclosed and demonstrated by the supervisor before the work begins. Pay will be hourly.
APPLES HAND HARVEST:
Worker will be assigned a row, usually with a partner or group, and is responsible for picking all the proper fruit from that row, or half row. Fruit is selected from the tree according to size and/or color standard set by the picking supervisor. The entire tree must be checked to ensure removal of all fruit meeting picking requirements. Fruit is placed gently in the picking container until container is full. Some varieties require the use of a stem clipping tool. The full picking container weighing up to 60 lbs. is then gently emptied into a field bin, taking care not to spill or bruise the fruit in the container or in the field bin. Field bin volume may be checked and determined by weight on state certified scales. Workers are required to stay on their assigned row unless directed by a supervisor to change or help someone else sporadically. Picking units will be kept free of limbs,
leaves or mushy fruit.
Workers must keep the work area clean and safe by keeping dropped fruit away from the bin in order to avoid slips or falls when emptying the bucket into the bin.
Special Requirements
This job requires a minimum of one month verifiable prior experience working in tree fruit orchards handling manual tasks associated with fruit production, hand-harvesting activities. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 50 lbs. Employer paid pre-hire and post-hire drug testing is required after a worker has an accident at work or upon suspicion. Any employee who declines to take or fails a drug test will be immediately terminated.