Farmworkers And Laborers

Job description

All Activities: Workers will perform all job specifications as instructed by the Farm Manager or Crew Supervisor. Each worker will receive and identification badge and pre-printed numeric stickers, to be used during harvest activities and throughout the employment period. Duties may vary from time to time and may include all of the following job specifications:

Runner Cutting/Trimming: Worker will walk down row as instructed and cut/trim runners, leaves and blooms as directed from each strawberry plant as necessary.

Freeze Protection Activities: May assist regardless of time of day, in keeping overhead irrigation rain birds free of ice during freezing weather.

Strawberry Harvest: 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 very high-quality standards as set forth in the Company Production and Quality Standard. 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 to maintain the efficiency level. Upon completion of each box picked, the worker will place their assigned numeric sticker on the box, take his/her packed box to the crate shed to be viewed for grade, receive credit on his/her assigned numeric sticker, 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 an assigned row, the worker will move to the next vacant row to be picked. Harvester may receive disciplinary notice if quality standards are an issue.

Harvest Processing Strawberries: As instructed, worker will move down assigned row picking all ripe strawberries, and discarding any bad berries that show evidence of rot or insect damage. Worker will be instructed to remove the cap (flower) of the strawberry with the aid of a slicing tool that is attached to the worker’s picking cart. Worker will pick the berry, slide it across slicer to remove cap. Uncapped berry will be dropped into harvesting tray, weighing approximately 20 lbs. when full. Trays are then taken to crate shed at the end of the row (worker receives credit on his/her assigned numeric sticker), and a new tray is obtained.

Squash Planting (Green, Yellow, Summer): As instructed, move down row placing two (2) seeds in each hole firmly packing dirt in hole.

Squash Harvest (Green, Yellow, Summer): As instructed, worker will move down assigned row and pick proper size, shape and color of squash, place into bucket. When full, take to washing station, receive credit on his/her badge and obtain empty bucket.

Squash Packing (Green): As instructed, worker will place green squash in the washing trough, thoroughly wash, and pack in ½ bushel box taking care to not bruise or damage the squash.

Fruit &Vegetable Planting/Harvesting: From time to time the worker may also plant and harvest a variety of fruit & vegetables during the season. It is unknown at this time exactly what vegetables may be harvested and/or planted, however, the workers will be paid the adverse effect wage rate, the prevailing wage, or the minimum wage whichever is higher.

Plastic Laying: Workers will hold plastic at end of row as machine moves down row unrolling plastic. Workers will even up the ends of each row with a shovel to make them straight, also will clean out ditches at end of row. Unload plastic and drip-tape from truck and load plastic and drip-tape on field machine as needed. May be instructed to remove or reinstall rain bird.

Special Requirements

The employer may conduct a drug test and/or criminal background check post-employment at the employers expense.