General Farm Worker

Job description

Job duties under our General Tree Fruit Worker contract will consist of activities associated with ONET Job Description 45-2092: Farmworkers and Laborers, Crop, Nursery and Greenhouse.

• Some General Labor duties would be to help with the establishment and maintenance of orchard properties by performing manual tasks used for: clearing property, planting trees, harvesting nursery trees, harvesting fruit, general maintenance and daily operations, and any other labor considered necessary for the efficient and safe operation of orchard properties.

• Maintenance, repair, and installation of Trellis systems. Including hole preparation, post, clips, anchor, wire installation, crossbar and or hoop installation

• Place extenday in the orchard (deploy) or retract extenday from orchard floor. This could include extenday, mylar, or other types of reflective material.

• Maintenance, repair, and assembly of shade cloth/ wind screen / bird netting, and drape net. Including hole preparation, post, clips, anchor and wire installation. The use of zip-ties, staples, and hog rings.

While performing all of the following duties, Workers will be expected to conform to the specific instructions provided each day by the supervisory staff, according to established company procedures accounting for difference in the treatment of different varieties and instructions based on market, fruit condition and operational demands. Time spent in this activity will depend on ranch location and seasonality.

• Pruning apple, pear, and cherry trees using handheld pruning shears or larger pruning loppers. Remove specific branches and sections of tree based on supervisory instruction by clipping off with shears, or loppers. Arrange all pruned branches in the center of the drive row for removal. Pruning of trees, bush or plant may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs.

• Training apple, cherry trees, to a trellis – take young tree limbs and attach them to wire using special tape, wood spacers or other provided fastener at specific intervals based on supervisory instruction. Training of trees may be done from the ground or ladder, or from a motorized platform. Workers must exercise care at all times to prevent breaking of branches and limbs.
Provide assistance in the establishment and maintenance of orchard properties by performing manual tasks used for: Operation of various equipment and vehicles used in the establishment, maintenance, and daily operations:
• Power pruners
• Chain saws
• Platforms
• Weed eaters
• Extenday Roller (Hydraulic generated roller and lift system.)
• Load and unload Extenday (or similar products) on/off truck. (This may be done either manually or when necessary, utilize the use of a Forklift or Highstack lift, as needed.)
• Drive pickup or other type of farm vehicle
for on-farm use
• Drive tractor (for towing non-PTO usage, example pulling a trailer or use of a pack fork)
• Use of ATV or side by side

Special Requirements

Workers must have one-month experience in manual task including heavy lifting, associated with commodity production.

Use of ladders up to 12 feet in height is required for picking, thinning, pruning, and some irrigation functions. Workers must possess proficiency in handling ladders, climbing and working on ladders safely. Workers will be expected to use all equipment in a safe and prudent manner to avoid injury. Workers must not lean ladders into trees, lean off to one side of the ladder, or stand on the last two steps of the ladder. Workers must not climb tree and should use a ladder. If a Worker is unsure of how to use a ladder safely, he or she must notify a crew leader or supervisor.

Workers must have the ability to perform the task as described in Item A8a-A11 Job specifications.