Farmworkers

Job description

THINNING: Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. This process requires the employee to remove, in some cases not limited to the smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within a cluster of other fruits. Workers 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. The Worker must possess the ability to pick up, handle a 10 ft. or 12 ft. orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Training may be performed from a motorized platform and/or from the ground or ladder. Some example training tasks are but not limited to: Tying, taping or clipping tree limbs to wires. Tying up or down fruit tree limbs. Training and limb positioning of fruit trees. Shoot thinning, sucker removal, cluster thinning, shoot positioning, hedging, or leaf removal. Propping and supporting fruit trees.

PRUNING: Pruning numerous varieties of fruit 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 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.

Special Requirements

This job opportunity requires 3 months of previous tree fruit experience. Worker may be required to lift or load up to 60lbs continually. There are general conditions of employment, general job specifications and individual requirements that are specific to each job duty. 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. Drug testing may be conducted post-employment and at the expense of the employer as stated in accordance with Departmental regulations at 20 CFR sec. 6S5.122(b ).