Field Workers (winegrapes)

Job description

Duties vary depending on the specific part of the growing season:

Work in grape vineyards during growing season (February through approximately May) will include weed removal and vine suckering.

Work in grape vineyards during growing season (approximately June through July) will include leaf removal.

Work in grape vineyards prior to growing season (February to mid-March) will include vine pruning

Work in grape vineyards on non-harvest activities (approximately August through mid-September) will include early season crop removal, move wires, picking, root picking, irrigation, field maintenance, canopy management, shoveling, stake removal and replacement.

Work in grape vineyards during harvest season (approximately mid-September through mid-October) will include picking wine grapes and activities directly related to wine grape picking, such as sorting grapes.

Non-harvest related activities continue during harvest time of the year but are not directly related to wine grape picking and include fence repair, trellis repair, post removal and replacement, drainage, field gutters, plant new vineyard including digging, raking, clean up and post pounding.

Harvest activities include: Use sharp picking knives, standing and kneeling on ground to pick fruit.

Daily work requires lifting, bending, kneeling, walking, and carrying up to 70-pound trays. Work in cold, hot, windy, and damp weather. Work hours vary, and night shifts may be required.

Works as a member of a crew, or individually performing moderately complex tasks that require limited judgment. Use standard tools such as rakes, hoes (long handled) and shovels. Workers may occasionally and/or sporadically perform duties associated with and directly related to wine grape field and harvest work including but not limited to packing, closing/stacking boxes in and around the vineyard, and clean-up functions in and around the vineyard. Such work will be temporary and insubstantial agricultural labor.

Special Requirements

Specific requirements include lifting up to 70 pounds frequently. Must be able to work under conditions where skin and clothing become heavily soiled with mud, water, grease, etc. Must be able to work outdoors in inclement weather conditions, including rain, cold, high winds, etc. Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of crops. No smoking, alcohol, firearms in the field or residential housing. Able to stoop, bend, and work in cold and wet conditions. Able to use tools such as pruning shears, grape knives, hand saws, weed eaters, hedgers, shovels. Workers may use chains saws. Safety use and training provided by employer. Must be able to understand and communicate in English or Spanish is required for training and safety purposes (i.e., Workers must listen to, understand, and follow instructions of Employer supervisors and managers.)