Crop Care Workers

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
Tomatoes.
This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable agricultural employment experience, preferably on a vegetable farm. Workers will be expected to perform manual jobs as well as equipment operation with accuracy and efficiency beginning with planting through harvest. Jobs offered are working in a hydroponic greenhouse facility planting, cultivating, harvesting tomatoes and greenhouse cleanout activities. The following applies to all crops listed:
- Tomatoes on the Vine
- Cherry Tomatoes on the vine
- Beefsteak Tomatoes
- Grape Tomatoes
- Cocktail Tomatoes
- Other Snacking Tomatoes

Under supervision, workers will perform manual labor to work in hydroponic greenhouse facility to prepare for new crop, perform regular crop maintenance , including lowering, de-leafing, harvesting and maintaining the plants. Workers will set up rockwool/peatmoss, load and unload new plants onto and off of trucks and/or carts, hang and remove string and plant wire spacing. Maintain all grounds including gutters, irrigation lines, remove and replace old drippers, maintain botrytis and close bee hives. Set up and clean up CMM machines. The workers will ensure that the plant crop is carried out efficiently and with care in order to produce a quality grown vegetable. Proper use of gloves, hairnets, smocks, shoe covers, hand sanitizers, foot baths and clippers is required. All food safety activities will also fall under the responsibility of this job order both inside and outside the greenhouse to ensure adherence to SQF rules and regulations as well as our strict integrated pest management program and all COVID-19 protocols. Other general agricultural labor duties as may be assigned from time to time.

Workers will be working under the direction of the Labor Manager, Head Grower, Crop Supervisor or an experienced Group Leader.

Workers will receive training on employer's policies with which they must comply including Equal Employment Opportunity policies and Food and Health safety standards and guidelines, FMLA and worker's compensation leave policies and other standard operating procedures, around the time work commences.

Workers must attend an orientation session to review and train accordingly. Workers will be issued an identification badge and timekeeping wristband at no cost. Instructions on use and care of both will be provided in orientation. The employer retains ownership of the timekeeping wristband and ID badge. Both items must be returned to the employer upon termination of employment.

Use, possession, transfer, offer, sale or manufacture of marijuana and/or controlled substances strictly prohibited. All work sites are alcohol and drug free workplaces. Employees must not report for work, enter the employers' property or perform service while under the influence of or having used alcohol, marijuana, illegal controlled substances, or any other substance that may in any way adversely affect their alertness, coordination, reaction or safety. The employer will drug/alcohol test upon reasonable suspicion of use and after a worker has an accident at work. If an employee tests positive, he/she is immediately terminated and paid for all hours worked between the first date of employment and the date of termination, if any. In the case of a non-local or foreign worker who is terminated for failure to pass a drug test, the employer will arrange least-cost transportation to the worker's place of recruitment, at the worker's expense.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable agricultural employment experience, preferably on a vegetable farm. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Workers will be expected to perform manual jobs as well as equipment operation with accuracy and efficiency beginning with planting through harvest. Saturday work required. Must lift/bend/twist/carry up to 30 lbs. Workers need to have no fear of bees and be non-allergic to bee stings. Post-hire employer-paid drug testing and background check required.