Farmworker/laborer

Job description

THINNING: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. The Worker must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Furthermore, the Worker must be able to use scissor like clippers. This process requires the Worker to remove, in some cases, not limited to the smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. The Worker will be expected to be able to identify and remove fruit that is misshapen, damaged and/or with other quality problems as directed by supervisors. Thinning may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or a ladder.

TRAINING: Training is a process in which the fruit tree is manipulated to increase yield and/or quality and proper fruit load. Training may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. The Worker must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Some examples training tasks are but not limited to: Tying, taping or clipping apple, pear, or cherry limbs to wires. Tying up or down apple, pear, or cherry limbs. Training and limb positioning of apple, pear and cherry trees. Sucker removal, cluster thinning, shoot positioning, hedging, or leaf removal. Propping and supporting apple and pear trees.

PRUNING: Pruning numerous varieties of apple, cherry and pear trees according to established company procedures based on the difference in the treatment of different varieties. Work will be performed on trees for long periods of time using a variety of pruning equipment including but not limited to hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws. Furthermore, the worker must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Pruning may be done from the ground or a ladder up to 12 feet in height or from a motorized platform. The Worker may be required to selectively prune only trees of a certain size and color as instructed by the crew supervisor. The Worker is expected to possess or acquire pruning skills in order to identify and remove stubs or broken branches, downward-growing branches, branches which rub against each other, shaded interior branches, dead wood and shoots/suckers with hand pruning saws and clippers, mechanized equipment in pruning activities.

PEAR/APPLES Harvest: The Worker will hand harvest apples and pears this can be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or a ladder. The 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. The Worker will pick according to grade, color and size by grasping fruit with the 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 20lbs to 60 lbs. and will place fruit into lugs or bins or bucket (4”x4”x3” which hold approximately 25 bushels of fruit). Care must be exercised at all times to prevent bruising of fruit or breaking of branches. The Worker may be required to examine harvested fruit in plastic/wooden bins and sort out any fruit not meeting the grade, color and size specifications. Workers must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds.

Special Requirements

Worker must possess 3 months of fruit tree experience. Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs. 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 most of the farm labor duties, for example picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding, etc. 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.