Field Workers: Onion Clipping / Harvest

Job description

H-2A and corresponding domestic workers must be available to perform each of the following job activities in connection with the harvesting and farming operations:

Field Workers: Onion Clipping / Harvest, Forklift Driver, Tractor Driver, General Farm Labor / General Ranch Maintenance to perform the following duties:

Onion clipping / harvest: This job requires the employee to bend at the waist and clip / harvest onions in an open field with company provided shears. Clipping / harvesting onions is a process by which the onion roots and tops are cut with shears and are placed in a bucket then dumped into a bin for processing. Employee must handle onions with caution to avoid damage (i.e., bruising and rotting). Employee will need to ensure minimal amount of dirt, roots, and trash are not placed in the bucket. Employee must be able to bend to pull onion with hands; separate, pull, grasp, cut, clip, and lift buckets to the bin, and safely walk on uneven ground in different parts of the field to perform the work. Employee will prepare freshly harvested crops for shipment. Each worker must carry onion buckets that weigh up to 25 lbs each into the bin throughout the day. Production average is 16 buckets per man per hour.

Yellow/Green/Red Onion Harvest: This job requires the employee to manually top onion in an open field on hands and knees with company-provided shears. Topping onion is a process by which the onion bulb roots and stems are manually cut off/clipped with shears, and the bulbs are put in a sack and then placed on a harvesting maching to be loaded onto a truck. Employee must handle onion bulbs with caution to avoid damage. Employee will need to ensure minimal amount of dirt, roots, and trash are placed in the sack. Employee must be able to handle pulled onion on hands and knees; separate, pull, grasp, cut, clip, and lift bags onto the harvesting machine; prepare freshly harvested crop for shipment; perform general ranch labor - weeding, thinning, hoeing (using a long-handled hoe); safely walk on uneven ground in different parts of the field to perform the work.

Forklift Driver Specifications: The Forklift driver is responsible for inspecting the forklift. Forklift drivers use knobs and levers to operate the forklift. Duties include the transferring and stacking of bins full of product onto the trailer. The employee works in an area that consists of 300 ft. in radius. Cycle is repeated.

Tractor Driver Specifications: The tractor driver is responsible for inspecting the tractor. Duties include getting in and out of the fields. The tractor driver takes empty bins, goes into the lot and sets them throughout the lot for workers to fill with product. The tractor driver gets in and out of the field as bins are set. Once workers fill up the bin, the tractor driver gets into the lot to take out the bins full of product. The tractor driver takes them out of the field and once out the field, a forklift transfers the product into the trailer. Cycle is repeated.

General Ranch Maintenance / General Farm Labor includes, but is not limited to, on the farm road maintenance and dust control to farm roadways by means of farm equipment.

Special Requirements

Requirements: 1-month experience harvesting crops to avoid crop damage and personal injury. Written verification of experience is required.Cannot be color blind due to the need to distinguish colors of the product. Must be able to use shears, clippers and other agricultural tools(i.e., hand saw (can be powered by gas)); no smoking, illegal drugs, alcohol, or weapons of any sort in the housing or work fields. Worker safety on the job and in employer-provided housing is our top priority. Workers may not possess, consume, or be under the influence of alcohol, cannabis, illegal drugs, or other controlled substances at the worksite or in the employer-provided housing. Fighting, including but not limited to, verbal, physical, or through social media or texts, and any threats or act of violence, and/or disruptive behavior against another individual or against property will not be tolerated, particularly acts of violence committed while under the influence of alcohol or drugs.