Farmworkers & Laborers & Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

All applicants must be able, willing and qualified to perform the work described in the job order and must be available for the entire period of employment specified in Section A. Box 3 & 4. Workers are needed to assist in planting, maintaining and harvesting diversified ground crops. Workers will perform field work including weeding, thinning, hoeing and other duties related to planting, maintaining and harvesting crops. Workers will work in greenhouses planting and transplanting seedlings, as well as caring for and harvesting greenhouse crops. Workers will also plant and transplant crops in the fields. Workers will work in a storage building washing, culling, and preparing produce for storage and distribution. Workers must have knowledge of soil tillage and must be able to apply fertilizers and pesticides and operate and repair farm machinery. Workers must have the knowledge and ability to prune, thin and train apple trees. The work assigned is physically demanding, bending, stooping and kneeling for long periods of time will be required. Workers must be able to lift and carry up to 50 pounds on a frequent basis. Workers must be able to operate agricultural equipment safely, may use hand tools such as but not limited to shovels, trowels, hoes, tampers, pruning hooks, shears, hand saws, knives, irrigation pumps and chainsaws. Workers will help load and unload trucks, may be asked to assist in cutting brush in or around field to keep clear for crops. Workers must be able to handle and climb a 20-foot ladder repetitively while carrying an apple picking bucket, which is harnessed over the workers shoulders. Workers may be requested to drive a truck on public roads between orchard blocks to remove apple bins from outlying orchards during harvest time. In addition, workers may be asked to drive tractor, pick up brush from orchard floor, repair broken bins. When harvesting apples, productivity must be at least 60 1- 1/8-bushel boxes per 7 hours worked with no more than 5% bruising for fresh market. Workers may be asked to operate trucks or other multi-purpose vehicles to transport workers from housing (whether on or off farm) to the farm properties; haul tools, supplies, or crops; transport workers from place to place around the farm properties during the workday (including on public roads to reach farmer's fields); and/or transport workers to the grocery store, bank, or laundry facilities on an as needed basis. Those that are requested to drive will be required to possess a valid driver’s license; no worker will be rejected for not having a driver's license. Workers should report for work with their own suitable clothing and must be willing to work in varied weather ranging from extremely cold in the spring and fall to hot, humid summer days. Workers must be available to work 8-hour shifts between the hours of 7:00am - 7:00pm Monday through Sunday. Workers will be given at least a 30-minute lunch break which is staggered between 11am - 1pm as decided by the workers. Workers may choose where to eat their lunch and return to work after their 30 minutes are up. Workers will also receive a 15-minute break in the morning and a 15-minute break in the afternoon as agreed upon by the worker and management. The daily or weekly work schedules may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. The employers will notify workers of any change to the schedule. The employer will provide 1 day of training and allow 2 days of work for the workers to satisfactorily perform duties described in this job description. The employer will furnish to workers without cost all tools and equipment required to perform all duties assigned. Workers must be able to take directions in simple English.