Agricultural Equipment Operators
Employer
5530 WILSON-BURT ROAD
BURT, NY 14028
United States
Job description
DUE TO FOOD SAFETY REGULATIONS, WORKERS MUST UNDERSTAND BASIC INSTRUCTIONS IN ENGLISH.
DURING THE ANTICIPATED PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT, THE PRIMARY ACTIVITY ON THIS FARM WILL BE THE HAND HARVEST OF APPLES. WORKERS DRIVE AND OPERATE
FARM MACHINERY TO PLANT, CULTIVATE, SPRAY AND HARVEST APPLES. REMOVES EXCESS GROWTH FROM TREES TO IMPROVE FRUIT QUALITY USING PRUNING
SAWS AND CLIPPERS. WORKERS DRIVE TRACTORS TO TRANSPORT MATERIALS, SUPPLIES, OR PRODUCT. ALSO, THIN BLOSSOMS OR IMMATURE FRUIT TO OBTAIN
BETTER QUALITY FRUIT. OTHER HARVESTING OF FRUIT OR OTHER JOB DUTIES, IF REQUIRED.
WORKERS MUST BE PHYSICALLY ABLE TO PICK FRUIT, MOST OF WHICH IS DONE FROM LADDERS WITH LOWER BRANCHES BEING PICKED FROM THE GROUND.
WORKERS PLACE LADDER FIRMLY AGAINST OR WITHIN TREE IN A SECURE POSITION SO AS NOT TO BREAK
LIMBS OR KNOCK OFF FRUIT AND TO PREVENT SLIPPING OR FALLING. ALL FRUIT TO BE HANDLED WITH CARE TO AVOID CAUSING BRUISING. PICKED FRUIT IS PLACED
IN A METAL-FRAMED, CANVAS-COVERED PICKING BUCKET WITH CANVAS STRAPS THAT SLIP OVER THE
HEAD AND REST ON THE SHOULDERS. THE BUCKET WHEN FILLED WEIGHS UP TO 45-LBS. AND IS EMPTIED INTO BULK BOXES KNOWN AS TOTE BOXES. EACH TOTE BOX
HAS A CAPACITY OF TWENTY (20) BUSHELS. WORKERS ARE REQUIRED TO HANDLE LADDERS
UP TO 24-FEET LONG AND WEIGHING ABOUT 2-LBS. PER FOOT. IN APPLE HARVEST WORK, WORKERS MAY BE INSTRUCTED TO SELECTIVELY PICK MATURE FRUIT
ACCORDING TO SIZE, COLOR, AND GRADE STANDARDS FACTORS. WORKERS WILL BE DIRECTED TO STRIP ALL
FRUIT FROM TREE AT ONE PICKING OR TO SPOT PICK (SELECTIVE PICKING) ACCORDING TO SIZE AND COLOR DEPENDING ON CROP CONDITIONS AND STATE OF
MATURITY. FRUIT PICKED AS DROPS IS NEVER MIXED WITH TREE FRUIT. PRODUCTIVITY MUST BE AT LEAST
4.8 BINS PER DAY FOR FRESH MARKET APPLES AND 6.75 BINS PER DAY FOR PROCESSING APPLES. EACH WORKERS PICKED FRUIT WILL BE INSPECTED ACCORDING TO
INSTRUCTIONS GIVEN EACH DAY BY THE ORCHARD FOREMAN.
WORKERS ALSO PERFORM ANY COMBINATION OF TASKS INVOLVED IN PLANTING, CULTIVATING AND HARVESTING OF FRUITS SUCH AS TILLING SOIL, PLANTING STOCK,
PRUNING TREES AND BUSHES, REMOVING SUCKERS AND RUNNERS FROM TREES, VINES AND PLANTS.
OTHER DUTIES INCLUDE LAYING OUT IRRIGATION PIPE AND INSTALLING SPRINKLERS, ASSISTING IN REPAIRING FENCES, UNLOADING TRUCKS, CLEARING FIELDS,
BURNING BRUSH AND HAND THINNING FRUIT. WILL USE APPROPRIATE TOOLS SUCH AS SHOVELS, HOES,
TAMPERS AND/OR PRUNING SHEARS.
PEACHES ARE HAND-PICKED IN HALF-BUSHEL BASKETS. ALSO, THE SKIMMING OF CHERRIES FROM TANKS AS CHERRIES ARE SHAKEN FROM TREE. ADDITIONAL
DUTIES DURING FEBRUARY AND MARCH INCLUDE TREE TRIMMING FOR EARLY SPRING GROWTH; EXPECT
INCLEMENT WORKING CONDITIONS, COLD TEMPERATURES (AT TIMES BELOW 32 DEGREES FAHRENHEIT) AND SNOW-COVERED GROUND.
EMPLOYER WILL FURNISH TO WORKERS, WITHOUT COST, ALL TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT REQUIRED IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE DUTIES ASSIGNED. WORKERS
SHOULD REPORT FOR WORK WITH THEIR OWN SUITABLE WORK CLOTHING. FIELD TEMPERATURES MAY RANGE
FROM 30 DEGREES TO 85 DEGREES WITH POSSIBLE WET MORNING CONDITIONS. EXTENSIVE WALKING AND FREQUENT STOOPING IS EXPECTED. WORKERS WILL ALSO
CLEAN AND SANITIZE RESTROOMS AND PORTABLE TOILET FACILITIES.
WORKERS MAY ALSO DRIVE PICKUP TRUCKS AND/OR BUSES TO TRANSPORT OTHER WORKERS TO THE JOB-SITE(S) AND/OR STORE. DRIVERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO
POSSESS A VALID DRIVERS LICENSE.
ALL APPLICANTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE THREE MONTHS EXPERIENCE IN ALL DUTIES OUTLINED IN THIS JOB ORDER.
Special Requirements
*HAND-HARVEST FRUIT WITH MINIMAL TO NO BRUISING FOR FRESH FRUIT
*IDENTIFY FRUIT GRADE (IE. COLOR, SIZE)
*CARRY PICK BASKET WEIGHING UP TO 45-LBS
*LIFT LADDER WEIGHING 2-LBS PER FOOT
*CLIMB LADDER UP TO 8-FEET HIGH
*THE EMPLOYER WILL PROVIDE 3 DAYS OF TRAINING AND/OR ALLOW 3 DAYS OF WORK FOR THE WORKER TO REACH PRODUCTION STANDARDS