Farmworker/laborer

Job description

Pruning numerous varieties of fruit trees according to established company procedures based on specific treatment of individual varieties. Worker performs pruning on trees for long periods of time using variety of pruning equipment including hand shears, hand loppers, hand saws, and 16-foot ladders. Pruning and thinning may be done from ground or up to 16 feet ladder or from motorized platform.

Worker may be required to selectively prune only certain size and color trees as instructed by Employer.

Worker must 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.

Thinning is a manual process used to control the size and quality of grown fruit. Worker must possess ability to pick up and handle 16-foot orchard ladder weighing 40 pounds. Worker removes smallest fruit blossom, bud and/or identifiable fruit from within fruit cluster. Worker identifies and removes misshapen, damaged and/or other not quality fruit as directed by Employer

Grafting is when a section of a fruit tree stem with leaf buds is manually inserted into the stock of a planted fruit tree. Worker will be required to safely use a knife to cut off a branch of the understock, making a straight, slanting cut. Worker will then attach the cut section of the new stem to the stock of the tree and bind tightly with tape. All grafts must be covered with a protective coating immediately after completing the graft.

Worker will plant and replant new orchards. These tasks will include repetitive and physically demanding shovel work, lifting and placing of heavy 12 ft x 6 in poles.

Some workers may be required to drive tractor and/or forklift. Employer will provide additional training for this task.

Worker will be required to spray trees in assigned orchard blocks/middles as directed by supervisor, using tractor and large spray attachment. Worker must be able to safely drive tractor, exercising caution to not damage fruit trees or other objects. Worker must be able to read measurements including quarts, pints, ounces, and accurately combine chemicals according to supervisor's instructions. Worker will be required to wear personal protective equipment in accordance with company policies. Worker will complete preparation tasks including measuring and pouring chemicals into tank and greasing tractor. During peak spray season, worker may be required to occasionally work overnight shifts and offered shifts up to 18 hours long due to weather conditions. Worker may not use phone while spraying.
Pay will be hourly.

If worker is eligible to drive under Michigan law and provides proof of no infractions from official source, Employer may require worker to drive to and from the worksite and to other locations within 30 miles as directed. To be eligible for driving job, worker must understand and agree to driving rules, as outlined in work rules below.

Pay will be hourly.

Special Requirements

Job requires worker to complete tasks in: general farm labor, hand harvest and packing of apples, cherries, peaches and plums.

Experience Requirement: 2 verifiable months of commercial tree fruit hand harvest experience required. Applicants must furnish job references from recent employers within the past 5 years establishing acceptable prior experience.

Drug testing not utilized as pre-employment tool. Worker agrees to testing as a condition of employment. Testing done at employers expense and not utilized as a pre-employment tool.