Farmworkers

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
cherries, strawberries, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, cucumbers, melons, okra, and pumpkins.
Manually plant, cultivate, and harvest fruit and vegetables including; cherries, strawberries, apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, plums, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, grapes, corn, beans, tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, squash, cucumbers, melons, okra, and pumpkins. Use hand tools, such as, shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks and shears, knives, hammers, and saws. Duties including manually cultivating all the different crops, hand thinning of any of the different crops, pruning, weeding, removing problem vines. Construct and repair trellis systems, repair and painting of farm fences and buildings. The sorting and repairing bulk bins. Tying, strapping, and taping of different crops, the irrigation of plants. Using riding mowers, push mowers, and weedeaters to mow around orchard property. Application of electrical post and wires, and applying tree wraps for deer and groundhog control. Manually picking up roots, rocks, old plastic and the laying of new plastic in prep for new plantings. Picking apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, and plums for fresh marketing and/or processing. Processing and packaging fresh fruit and vegetables. Productivity must be at least 100 bushel boxes per day of fresh market fruit. All fruit to be handled with care to avoid bruising. Fruit injured by bruising shall not exceed 2% as defined in the U.S. standard for grades. Workers must be able to pick tree fruit, most of which is done from ladders, with the lower branches being picked from the ground. Picked fruit is placed in a molded plastic canvas covered picking bucket, with canvas straps that slip over the head and rest on the shoulders. Filled buckets weighing up to 60 pounds are emptied into bulk bins with capacity ranging between 13 1 and 1/8th bushel boxes to 25 1 and 1/8th bushel boxes. Workers are to handle ladders up to 24 foot long and weighing about 2 pounds per foot. Inform farmers or farm managers of crop progress. Must be physically able to lift up to 75 pounds on a consistent basis throughout the day. Due to safety concerns of a farm, workers must understand some basic instruction in English. Workers who have a valid driver's license and doctor's certificate may drive multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers on and off the farm and may be offered additional hours. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, honey bees, insecticides, herbicides, fungicides, or related chemicals may affect a worker's ability to perform the job. Persons seeking employment in this position must be available for the entire period requested by the employer.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker's Sabbath or federal holidays. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break.

During our busy times of harvest workers may be asked to work longer hours including Sundays to get the fruit harvested at the proper time. When weather is hot the starting and quitting time may be shifted to earlier or later in the day. This may vary depending on crop and weather conditions.
TERMINATION. Prior to any termination for cause, employer evaluates workers' performance of required tasks and compliance with Work Rules and other employer policies.

Special Requirements

Three months of farmwork experience performing tasks described in this job order. Work will be performed in inclement weather conditions. Walk, bend, stoop, reach, push, pull and perform repetitive movements. Lift and carry up to 75 lbs. Climb ladders up to 24 ft. Drug testing is conducted upon suspicion at the expense of the employer and is not part of the interview process.