Farmworker/laborer

Job description

Crops: Apples, Cherries, Peaches, Nectarines, Apricots

Winter preparation:
Winter preparation will consist of general winter maintenance, pruning and tree training activities at Douglas Ag Services. Workers will remove or cut buds from branches of the plant, making room for new and stronger shoots to grow at the end of the dormant. Pruning of young trees. Pruning deciduous trees, eliminating signs of diseased wood, and crossing branches. The worker will use loppers or power pruners, to prune and control the growth of trees and shrubs. Workers must follow instructions on the different pruning techniques for apple trees, nectarines, peach, and cherry trees. Pull out old trees that need to be removed. Prepare the fields to plant new trees. Winter cleaning and occasional repair of sprinklers.

Apple/Stone Fruit/Cherry Harvest
Apple Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest apples. This can be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. The Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit while standing on the ground, and higher branches while standing on a ladder. The Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by carefully grasping fruit with their hands and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. The Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 60 lbs. and will place fruit into wooden bins sized 47"x47"x24.5" - which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit. Care must be always exercised to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. The Worker may be required to examine harvested fruit in bins and sort out any fruit not meeting grade, color and size quality specifications. The Worker must possess the ability to pick-up; handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing up to 40 pounds. Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and picks low hanging fruit while standing on the ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Stone Fruit Harvest: Worker will hand harvest peaches, nectarines and/or apricots. Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit while standing on ground and higher branches while standing on a ladder. Workers must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Worker will pick according to grade, color, size, and degree of maturity by grasping fruit with their hands and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 30 lbs. and will place fruit into wooden or plastic bins which hold approximately 16-18 bushels of fruit. Harvest conditions vary based on weather patterns and market demands. Cherry Harvest: Worker will hand harvest cherries. Worker will attach harness, bucket or bag and pick low hanging fruit while standing or on a ladder. Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping stem with the hands and removing from the tree in a motion so as not to harm adjacent buds on the tree branches. Worker will carry harness, bucket or bag of up to 20 lbs. and will place fruit into bins which hold approximately 320 pounds of fruit. Workers must be able to lift and handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Care must be always exercised to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. Workers cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of the product, able to use shears, clippers and other agricultural tools, no smoking, illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons of any sort in the housing or work fields. Thinning rates can range from $0.30 to $1.35 depending on crop load.

Special Requirements

Worker must possess 3 months of tree fruit experience. Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs. Employer reserves the right to conduct employer-paid random, upon suspicion and/or post-accident drug testing in accordance with state law. Any employee who declines to take or fails a drug test will be immediately terminated. Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit. May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, fruit containers, etc. May require worker to sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, pruning, etc. Workers will be required to stoop and/or bend over while performing farm labor such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, picking, removing debris, etc. There will be repetitive movements while performing farm labor duties: picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, mowing, etc.