Berry Harvesters

Job description

CROPS: BLACKBERRIES, BLUEBERRIES, MELONS, SWEET CORN, AND SOYBEANS. GENERAL FARM WORK WILL INCLUDE: PREPARE FIELDS, SEED BEDS, PLASTIC GROWING BEDS, MANUALLY PLANT, CULTIVATE, AND HARVEST VEGETABLES, FRUITS, AND FIELD CROPS. USE HAND TOOLS SUCH AS SHOVELS, TROWELS, HOES, TAMPERS, PRUNING HOOKS, SHEARS, AND KNIVES TO SUPPORT AGRICULTURAL ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING PRUNING BERRY CROPS. DUTIES MAY INCLUDE TILLING SOIL; TRANSPLANTING, WEEDING, THINNING, OR PRUNING CROPS; MAY CONSTRUCT/REPAIR TRELLISES AND REPAIR OR MAINTAIN FARM BUILDINGS AND PARTICIPATE IN IRRIGATION ACTIVITIES.

Workers who possess a valid driver’s license and meet all applicable legal requirements, including holding a doctor’s certificate as required by 29 CFR § 500.105, may be asked to drive vehicles for transporting workers, goods, or commodities on company business. This task is voluntary, compensable, and not a mandatory job duty. Workers without a valid driver’s license or doctor’s certificate will still be fully eligible for employment and are not disqualified from any other job responsibilities outlined in this application. The employer can and will make alternative arrangements for the transportation of workers should the need arise.

IRRIGATION WORK WILL INCLUDE: SET UP DRIP/OVERHEAD IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, PLACE OR PULL PLASTIC, OPERATE IRRIGATION EQUIPMENT.

HARVEST DUTIES WILL INCLUDE: MELONS: HAND HARVEST PLACED IN BINS, SHORT MELONS BY SIZE; SWEET CORN HANDPICK AND PLACE IN 5 DOZEN SACK. BLACKBERRIES AND BLUEBERRIES: GRADE, AND FIELD PACK BLACKBERRIES (95%) AND BLUEBERRIES (5%) BY HAND. WALK THROUGH ASSIGNED ROW WHILE BENDING AND REACHING TO PICK RIPE BLUEBERRIES AND BLACKBERRIES BY HAND WITHOUT BRUISING OR DAMAGING THE FRUIT OR BUSH. WORKERS MUST USE CARE TO PICK BUSHES CLEAN OF ALL BERRIES OF THE CORRECT COLOR AND SIZE THAT ARE SUITABLE FOR SHIPMENT TO FRESH FRUIT MARKETS, AS INSTRUCTED BY THEIR SUPERVISOR. GREEN OR RED BERRIES MUST NOT BE PICKED. WHEN PICKING BLUEBERRIES, WORKERS WILL CAREFULLY PLACE PICKED BERRIES INTO ONE GALLON/SIX-POUND BUCKETS OR CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS AND CARRY TO THE INSPECTION LOCATION ACCORDING TO SUPERVISORS’ INSTRUCTIONS. WORKERS WILL PLACE FULL CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS IN FLATS AT THE END OF THE ROWS; CARRY FULL BUCKETS AND FULL CLAMSHELL FLATS TO THE TRAILER IN THE FIELD. BUCKETS AND CLAMSHELLS WILL BE INSPECTED FOR QUALITY AND WEIGHED. BLACKBERRIES WILL BE PICKED, GRADED, AND PACKED; WORKERS WILL CAREFULLY PLACE PICKED BERRIES INTO BUCKETS WITH A NET WEIGHT OF 30 POUNDS OR CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS AND CARRY THEM TO THE INSPECTION LOCATION ACCORDING TO SUPERVISORS’ INSTRUCTIONS. WORKERS WILL PLACE FULL CLAMSHELL CONTAINERS IN BOXES AT THE END OF THE ROWS; CARRY FULL BUCKETS AND FULL BOXES TO THE TRAILER IN THE FIELD WHERE FRUIT IS INSPECTED FOR QUALITY AND WEIGHT.

Special Requirements

3 month of farm work experience required. Walk, bend, reach, push, pull, and lift and carry up to 30 lbs. for prolonged periods of time and have hand dexterity. Work is outside in extremely wet, humid, hot and dirty conditions.