Farmworkers And Laborers, Crop

Job description

Harvesting citrus fruit by hand under supervisor’s instructions, the worker will place a picking sack over his shoulder and carry an 18’ to 20’ ladder from the field truck to the particular area of the grove to be harvested. The picking sack is a canvas bag equipped with a shoulder strap for support, an opening for the insertion of fruit, and an opening to remove fruit. A full loaded sack weighs between approximately 80 and 100 pounds, depending upon the size, condition and variety of fruit. Worker positions ladder against the tree and within reach of the fruit in a leaning position, taking care not to break limbs, damage the tree, knock of fruit or interfere with other workers, in a secure position to prevent slipping or falling and possible injury to themselves or other workers. Worker will remove fruit from the tree and place into pick sack. When pick sack is full take full sack to fruit tub.
Planting citrus trees: by hand under supervisor’s instructions, planting a tree at a tree space where a tree has been removed the worker will dig a hole 3 feet on each side of the removed tree in line with the other trees in the same row (clear weeds if needed) the hole must be 14 inches deep and 5 inches round, place soil that has been removed from the hole evenly around the hole, evenly sprinkle 1 pound of young tree fertilizer on the soil around the hole, remove the tree from the citrus pot over the hole, place tree in the hole at ground level so potting mix is even with the ground, use your hand to pack the soil with the fertilizer into the hole firmly around the tree, water the tree around the roots (1 gallon or more) place more soil around the tree roots after watering. Workers must be able to lift at least 70 lbs.
Place pot as sprout inhibitor and tree protector: Notch the bottom of the pot and slip in over the tree, place the micro sprinkler between the newly planted trees in the reset space. Do a quality job when planting citrus trees, proper placement and proper planting.
General Field Caretaking: Vaccinating trees, removal of debris, repair irrigation and other grove maintenance.
**Workers who qualify may occasionally help with moving trucks, tractors and using forklifts. **
General Maintenance: Workers on physical work restrictions or when harvesting work is not available may be required to perform miscellaneous clean-up work on work site property, on structures utilized in the work site operation, and on housing for harvesting workers. Such clean-up activities include the sprouting, pruning, and painting of trees; debris, weed, and vine removal; irrigation repair; housing and structure cleaning and repair.

The worker in order to perform this kind of work must be able to work outside for at least 6 hours a day in all kinds of weather and be in a possession of the requisite physical strength and endurance, working quickly and skillfully with their hands repeatedly, the employer will provide the tools necessary (if applicable) to perform the described job duties without charge to the worker. Employer may deduct the reasonable cost of damages and/or replacement of tools and/or equipment if such repair or replacement results from willful neglect or gross negligence after the damage has occurred and after gaining the employee's written authorization to make the deduction.

Special Requirements

This type of work, involves working conditions that require tremendous stamina, a high level of physical activity in cold or extremely hot conditions in direct sunlight and in adverse weather such as rain. The work requires a high level of physical conditioning.