Farmworker

Job description

Work duties will include primarily pears, apple and blueberry pruning. Other duties may include pear, apple and blueberry crops thinning, tree training, fire blight cutting and removal, and general farm clean-up.

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. Farm clean up tasks include picking up garbage around the orchard, removing old string and wire from trellis and orchard blocks, and other farm labor tasks.

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, clippers, mechanized pruning equipment.

1. Operate or maintain equipment used in agricultural production and field preparation such, as tractors, irrigation equipment, 4- wheelers, trucks, and other commonly used equipment in agriculture.

2. Operate tractors to mow, weed spray and move bin/tote trailers in the orchard and fields.

3. Load and mix chemicals in addition to operating tractors pulling air blast sprayers. Workers will be trained in the safe use of chemicals.

4. Install, monitor, maintain and repair the irrigation system for a specified area of the orchard.

5. Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers. Workers will either have a valid pesticide license or be supervised by someone with a valid pesticide license.

6. Drive vehicles to haul crops, supplies, farmworkers, and tools.

Special Requirements

Worker must possess 3 months of tree fruit experience.
4e) Must be able to lift and/or load 60lbs.
4g) Work may take place when temperatures are below freezing and above 100 degrees Fahrenheit.
4h) May require extensive pulling and/or pushing of tools, wheelbarrows, fruit containers, etc.
4i) May require worker to sit and/or walk for extensive periods of time while sorting, picking, examining, weeding, transporting, pruning, etc.
4j) Workers will be required to stoop and/or bend over while performing farm labor such as weeding, irrigating, pruning, picking, removing debris, etc.
4k) There will be repetitive movements while performing most of the farm labor duties, for example picking, sorting, pruning, shoveling, weeding. etc.