Farmworkers And Laborers

Job description

The farm work position includes duties associated with the planting, cultivating, harvesting, distribution and packing of berries and melons. This work can require standing, walking, stooping, bending, and lifting up to 25 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.

Plastic and Drip Irrigation: Workers will help install black plastic and drip irrigation on rows in the field being careful to cover all of the exposed edges of plastic cover with soil and being careful not to tear or punch holes in plastic. Workers may be asked to utilize implements associated with the installation of the plastic row covers incidental to performing required tasks on the ground.

Berry Planting: Workers will plant berry plants in pre-punches holes on the plastic covered rows being careful to place the berry plants at the same depth in the soil as they grew in the nursery.

Berry Harvesting: Workers will move down assigned rows picking all ripe berries, grading berries while harvesting, taking care to sort and pack containers by size, shape, color, quality, and quantity as directed. Each worker must pick the plants clean of all ripe fruit, sort, and pack all good berries into specified containers, within the box, according to high quality standards as set forth in the Company's food safety policy and standard operating procedures. Bad berries will be packed or disposed of as determined by the supervisor. Each worker shall handle berries carefully to avoid bruising. Bruising will weaken the berry. Each harvesting worker is expected to move with the crew from row to row and maintain the efficiently level. Upon completion of each box picked, the worker will take his/her packed box to the grading table to be viewed for grade and receive a new box with containers. Any containers that are over or under packed, or consist of poor-quality fruit, will be returned to the worker for repacking. Upon completion of assigned row, the worker will move to the next vacant row to be picked. Harvester may receive disciplinary notice if quality continues to be an issue.

Depending on market demand, workers may also be required to pick berries in cups, clamshells and/or flats. Berries harvested specifically for sale at roadside stand as fresh market specialty basket containers must be field graded. For berries harvested for sale at roadside stands, extra care must be used to ensure that each strawberry is undamaged and perfect. All berries must be handled carefully to prevent bruising or fingernail cuts. Pickers will take extreme care not to damage the delicate berries. Quality and workmanship is of the utmost importance.

Pre and Post-Harvest Activities: Pre-harvest activities for berries may include weeding, transplanting and frost protection. Workers may be required to perform other tasks maintenance activities in the berry operation.

Strawberry Field Maintenance: Removing weeds, cutting runners, cutting leaves, fixing row beds, removing plastic and drip tape, Etc.

When harvest is completed, the workers will assist in removing the berry plants from the plastic and prepare for planting the next crop. In some instances, workers may be required to remove the plastic and drip irrigation tape from the row and load on the trucks for removal from field.

Special Requirements

Employer may conduct criminal background checks post-employment and at the employer's expense.

Employer may conduct drug/alcohol testing post-employment and at the employer's expense.