Farm Worker

Job description

General orchard work requires trimming and pruning, cutting away dead or excess branches from apple trees to maintain the health and value of the tree, using hand saws and pruners, power pruners, step ladders, trimming clippers and pruning hooks. Worker's ability to keep hands and arms steady while moving and trimming, ability to bend, stretch, twist, or reach with your body, arms and/or legs. Prepare fields and plant new trees. Harvest apples from tree and deposit them in a bushel picking bucket to a bin. Manually harvest fruit using hand tools such as picking buckets, step ladders and boxes (bins). Repair of apple bins, replace broken and damaged boards with new boards using a hammer and nails.

Work is to be done for long periods of time in the field, when plants may be wet with dew and rain, and may be required during light rain, snow, moderate winds, direct sun, high humidity and extreme temperatures. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers? ability to perform the job. Workers must be able to perform the required work with or without reasonable accommodations.

Must wear assigned personal protective equipment when required. Must report for work daily wearing appropriate work clothing and boots or other durable footwear. Casual clothing not permitted. Workers wearing inappropriate clothing will not be permitted to start work.

Workers will have an unpaid lunch break when working more than 5 hours. Must report to work at the designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedules may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employers will notify workers of any change to start/end times. Employer may request, but not require that workers work more than the stated daily hours, on the worker's Sabbath, or on federal holidays.

Workers may not report for work under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Possession or use of illegal drugs or alcohol on company worksites or vehicles is prohibited and will be cause for immediate termination.
The work described herein is regular, seasonal full-time work requiring all workers to be available as stated on the standard work schedule, throughout the entire contract period. Employees may experience a temporary reduction in work and/or a temporary work stoppage due to the natural agricultural cycle.

Employer also retains the right to terminate workers for lawful job-related reasons, including but not limited to workers who: are regularly absent or tardy; malingers or otherwise refuses to work in accordance with direction, or is otherwise obviously unqualified to perform the job; is physically able but does not demonstrate the willingness to perform the work necessary.
Non-U.S. workers may be terminated if one or more U.S. workers becomes available for the job during the employer's recruitment period. Job abandonment will be deemed to occur after five consecutive workdays of unexcused absences.

Foreign workers will be advised of their responsibility to depart the U.S. when employment comes to an end. Employer will request and maintain records of each worker's permanent home address, e-mail address (when available) and phone number.

Special Requirements

Workers must be familiar with working at piece rate production and must have experience in working with farm sanitary and safety practices as required in Good Agricultural Practices (GAP)plans. Workers should report for work with their own suitable work clothing. Due to health and safety concerns relating to pesticide application and the operation of equipment on our farm, workers are required to have the ability to comprehend simple oral instructions in English. Must be physically able to lift up to 100 pounds *Workers referred against this order must have a minimum of 3 months verifiable experience in performing tasks described in this order. Drug testing may be conducted at the employer's expense: post-hire, at random, upon suspicion or post-accident. Any employee who declines to take or fails a drug test will be immediately terminated.