Farmworkers/laborers

Job description

This is a job for: hand harvest of apples; pears; cherries, and blue berries; tree training; thinning and pruning by the worker.

There are general conditions of employment, general job specifications and individual requirements that are specific to each job duty:

CHERRY Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest cherries, this can be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. The Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit from the ground or while standing on a ladder / platform. The Worker will pick according to set standards of grade, color and size by grasping fruit stem 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 fruit to the nearest dump station where fruit is placed into plastic lugs or bins. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches or damaging sprinkler system. Some Workers may be required to examine harvested fruit in plastic/wooden bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. The worker must have the ability to pick-up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing up to 45 pounds in a safe manner.

APPLE/PEAR Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest apples/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 pick low hanging fruit while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder or platform. The Worker will pick according to set standards of 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. When instructed worker will be required to clip stems from the fruit without damaging the fruit. The Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 60 lbs. and will place fruit into plastic/wooden bins, 4x4x3 which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches or damaging sprinkler system. The Worker 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 and/or clip fruit from tree; handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing up to 45 pounds in a safe manner.

BLUEBERRY Harvest: Worker will spend time bending and crouching while hand harvesting blueberries at locations indicated by supervisor. Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Workers will pick blueberries from bushes and place the blueberries in buckets attached to the body. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping the berries with fingers and remove the berries so as to not harm the adjacent berries and buds, or bruise the picked berries. Worker will carry plastic buckets and will place berries into flats, trays or pack directly into clamshells. Plastic picking buckets will hold 6 pounds of blueberries. Worker may be required to carry 15 lbs flats to row end

Please see Addendum C

Special Requirements

2) Worker must possess 3 months of tree fruit experience.
4e) Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs.
4g) Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
4h) May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, fruit containers, etc.
4i) May require worker to sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, pruning, etc.
4j) Workers will be required to stoop and/or bend over while performing farm labor such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, picking, removing debris, etc.
4k) There will be repetitive movements while performing most of the farm labor duties, for example picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc.

See Addendum C