Farm Labor

Job description

The farm work position includes duties associated with the harvesting and field packing of fruits and vegetables. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 65 pounds for long periods of time outdoors in all weather conditions. It also includes making important decisions based on size, coloring, and ripeness according to prescribed standards.

This work requires adherence to important food safety and quality standard operating procedures and the ability to work quickly and consistently alongside fellow workers with a positive, professional, team- based attitude and a consideration for the safety and health of fellow workers and of the consumers who will purchase and consume the fresh produce grown, harvested, packed, and shipped from the farm.

Cabbage: Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and cut/pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness.They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. Workers may drive tractors, trucks and forklifts as Cabbage is field packed and loaded and transported from field in containers weighing 50lbs – 54lbs.

Broccoli: Workers will bend and stoop to pick vegetables according to size, color, shape and degree of maturity and place into field containers whether bags or boxes. Workers must use care when performing their farm work duties and exercise consciousness to not damage or bruise the produce. Workers must adhere to all safety rules as instructed by their supervisors and all farm work operations must meet the standards and specifications given by the employer. Workers will be assigned a row or series of rows and required to select and pick produce according to criteria outlined and demonstrated by managers such as size, coloring, and ripeness. They will be responsible for in-field grading and discarding of poor quality, rotting, and/or over-ripened produce. Workers will gently load the good quality produce into containers, taking care to avoid damage or bruising. . Broccoli boxes should weigh 30 lbs,

Farm, Field Sanitation and Packing Shed Sanitation: Workers may be responsible for picking up trash, cleaning bathrooms, and other similar farm sanitation as part of SOPs and SSOPs within Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), Good Handling Practices (GHPs), and Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) for Food Safety. This includes personalhygiene and handling the fruit in the field with an emphasis on food safety, sanitizing all harvesting tools and keeping the fields as clean as possible. Workers may be responsible for pulling plastic, picking up trash, cleaning bins and other similar farm sanitation.

Workers may be required to operate farm vehicles and equipment such as trucks, tractors, and forklifts. Workers will be instructed in the safety and operation of the vehicle/equipment before operating. All vehicles should be driven in a manner to protect workers, harvested produce, in-field crops, and equipment. Operators should ensure all equipment is functioning correctly before operating. The use of all necessary PPE and safety equipment including wearing of seatbelt at all times when operating farm equipment is mandatory. Workers may assist with the repair, service, & maintenance of farm equipment including the prep, cleaning, lubrication, assembly, inspection, dismantling of equipment parts.