Orchard Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities: apples

Orchard laborers needed for pruning, thinning, harvesting, and other specialized orchard tasks at employer-owned apple orchard sites. Tasks may be performed on ground level, using 10-12-foot ladders, or from a motorized platform. Workers will be primarily responsible for proper and efficient thinning and harvesting of apples. Supervisor(s) will provide instructions and directions to workers. Workers must be able to comprehend and follow instructions and communicate effectively with supervisors. Unusual, complex, or non-routine activities will be supervised. Workers expected to perform basic duties in a proficient manner without close supervision.

Thinning involves manually removing fruit or buds to control the size, quality and/or quantity of mature fruit. Thinning standards may change from time to time based on block, variety, crop yield, or other company, market, or horticultural needs. Workers must possess or quickly acquire the ability to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged, and/or contains other quality problems, as directed by the Company.

Harvesting involves the manual hand harvesting of apples. Worker will attach harness, bucket, or bag and pick low hanging fruit from ground level, using ladders, or from a motorized platform. Workers will pick according to current company provided criteria, including, but not limited to, grade, color, and/or size. Workers must handle and harvest the fruit in a manner that does not bruise or damage the fruit or harm adjacent buds or fruit on the tree branches. Workers will have their fruit checked for damage and bruising. Any apple bruises the size of a pencil end or bigger will be counted. If the sampled bin of apples contains 5-9 bruises a warning ticket is issued; a second warning ticket will result in a two (2) day suspension; a third warning ticket will result in termination. Warning ticket counts will reset at the end of apple harvest. Workers may also be required to examine harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the specified criteria, or any foreign objects, including branches, leaves, etc. Workers must possess or quickly acquire the ability to properly harvest apples in accordance with current company harvest standards.

For apple harvest, worker will carry harness, bucket, or bag of up to 60 pounds and carefully place fruit in wooden or plastic bins measuring 47" x 47' x 24'' which holds approximately 25 bushels of apples.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months prior experience working in an orchard, handling manual tasks associated with the commodity production and harvesting of tree fruits. Applicants must be able to furnish verbal or written statement establishing relevant prior work experience. Workers must be able to perform all work activities with accuracy and efficiency. Primary tasks will be thinning and harvesting of apples. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs. Must be able to use/handle ladders 10-12 ft. in length and weighing 25 - 30 lbs. Employer-paid drug testing required post-accident, at random, and upon-suspicion. Failed drug test results in immediate termination.